Gas Behavior

Front

Pressure Noun

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[presh-er]

Back

Pressure

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The force exerted by gas particles colliding with the walls of their container, measured per unit of area.

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Example: This image shows that atmospheric pressure is higher at lower altitudes (more air pushing down) and lower at higher altitudes (less air pushing down).

Front

Volume Noun

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[vol-yoom]

Back

Volume

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The amount of three-dimensional space a gas occupies, which is equal to the size of its container.

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Example: This image shows a rectangular prism with its length, width, and height clearly labeled, which are the three measurements needed to calculate its volume.

Front

Temperature Noun

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[tem-per-uh-cher]

Back

Temperature

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A measure of the average kinetic energy of the particles in a substance, which must be in Kelvin for gas laws.

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Example: This is a thermometer, a tool used to measure temperature by showing how hot or cold something is on a numbered scale.

Front

Kinetic Energy Noun

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[ki-net-ik en-er-jee]

Back

Kinetic Energy

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The energy that a particle or object possesses as a result of its motion.

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Example: A soccer ball flying through the air has kinetic energy because it is an object in motion.

Front

Kelvin Noun

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[kel-vin]

Back

Kelvin

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The absolute temperature scale required for gas law calculations, where 0 K represents absolute zero.

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Example: This diagram shows the Kelvin (K) temperature scale, where 0 K is absolute zero, the coldest possible temperature. It also shows that water freezes at 273.15 K.

Front

Amount of Gas Noun

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[uh-mount uv gas]

Back

Amount of Gas

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A quantity representing the number of gas particles or moles present in a container.

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Example: This image shows that the 'amount of gas' is determined by the number of individual gas particles contained within a specific space.

Front

Elastic Collision Noun

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[i-las-tik kuh-lizh-un]

Back

Elastic Collision

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A collision in which the total kinetic energy of the system is conserved; a key feature of ideal gases.

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Example: When one ball is lifted and released, it strikes the others, transferring its energy and momentum through the line to make the last ball swing out.

Front

Compressibility Noun

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[kom-pres-uh-bil-i-tee]

Back

Compressibility

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The ability of a gas to be forced into a smaller volume due to the large empty spaces between particles.

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Example: A person sits on a suitcase to compress the clothes inside, showing how applying force can reduce the volume of an object.

Front

Expansion Noun

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[ik-span-shun]

Back

Expansion

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The tendency of a gas to spread out and fill the entire volume of its container due to random particle motion.

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Example: Heating a substance, like turning liquid water into gas, causes its molecules to move faster and spread apart, making it take up more space.

Front

Diffusion Noun

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[di-fyoo-zhun]

Back

Diffusion

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The process by which particles of one gas spread out and mix with particles of another due to random motion.

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Example: This diagram shows particles moving from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration across a membrane, illustrating diffusion.