Properties of Gases

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Kinetic Theory Noun

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[ki-net-ik thee-uh-ree]

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Kinetic Theory

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A theory explaining gas properties based on the principle that gas particles are in constant, random, and rapid motion.

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Example: This diagram shows that gas is made of tiny molecules that are in constant, random motion, bouncing off each other and the container walls.

Front

Compressibility Noun

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

Back

Compressibility

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A measure of how much the volume of matter, particularly a gas, decreases under a specific amount of applied pressure.

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Example: Pushing the plunger on a sealed syringe compresses the trapped air, which has a smaller volume, causing the balloon inside to shrink.

Front

Pressure Noun

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[presh-er]

Back

Pressure

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The amount of force exerted by a substance per unit of area, typically caused by the collision of gas particles.

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Example: This image shows that atmospheric pressure is caused by the weight of air. There is less air above a mountain, creating lower pressure, and more air at sea level, creating higher pressure.

Front

Temperature Noun

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[tem-per-uh-cher]

Back

Temperature

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A quantitative measure of the average kinetic energy of the particles that make up a substance, such as a gas.

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Example: This image shows that increasing the temperature of a gas makes its particles move faster, demonstrating that temperature is a measure of particle kinetic energy.

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 direct result of its motion.

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Example: This image shows the mathematical formula for kinetic energy, defining it as one-half of an object's mass multiplied by its velocity squared.

Front

Volume Noun

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[vol-yoom]

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Volume

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The amount of three-dimensional space that a substance occupies, which for a gas is the entire container it fills.

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Example: This image shows how to calculate the volume of a cube, which is the amount of three-dimensional space it occupies, using the formula V=s³.

Front

Gas Particles Noun

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[gas pahr-ti-kuhls]

Back

Gas Particles

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The individual molecules or atoms that constitute a gas and are characterized by their constant, random, and rapid motion.

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Example: This diagram shows that gas particles are far apart from each other and move around freely and randomly inside their container.

Front

Piston Noun

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[pis-tuhn]

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Piston

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A sliding disc or cylinder component enclosed within a larger cylinder, used to compress gases or move fluids.

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Example: This diagram shows a movable piston inside a cylinder, trapping a volume of gas. This setup is used to demonstrate how gas properties like pressure and volume change.

Front

Kilopascal (kPa) Noun

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[kil-oh-pas-kal]

Back

Kilopascal (kPa)

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A standard metric unit of measurement for pressure, where one kilopascal is equivalent to one thousand pascals (Pa).

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Example: This diagram shows that the kilopascal (kPa) is a unit for measuring atmospheric pressure, which is highest at sea level (101 kPa) and decreases with altitude.