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Thermal Physics

Charles’ Law

Consider a quantity of gas in a container of variable volume. If we change the temperature of the gas and allow it to change volume at constant pressure, the results are as shown by the graph below. (See experiment 6TP.)

Making the same extrapolation as in the previous experiment, we find the same "magic" figure; -273°C.

This suggests that the volume occupied by the gas because of the motion of its molecules would be zero at -273°C. Again, this suggests that this is the lowest temperature possible.

Note that the absolute zero of temperature has not been attained in practice; it is a theoretical prediction found by extrapolation of experimental results.

This conclusion of this experiment is expressed in The Pressure Law, stated as follows.

The pressure of a fixed mass of gas at constant volume is directly proportional to the absolute temperature.

These results do not depend on the type of gas.

The conclusion of this experiment is expressed in Charles’ Law, stated as follows.

The volume of a fixed mass of gas at constant pressure is directly proportional to the absolute temperature.

If a fixed mass of gas has initial (absolute) temperature T1 and initial volume V1 and final (absolute) temperature and volume T2 and V2 respectively, then we can write

© David Hoult 2008