Simulation of Gas Law Worksheet

Goal: Arrive at Boyle's Law and Charle's Law by using a simulation.

Author Information: The simulator used was created by John Gelder at Oklahoma State University and is interactive. You can adjust the number of molecules, pressure, temperature, and volume of gas molecules while monitoring how the the distribution of their speeds vary as a function of these parameters.

Required Materials: First, you might want to print this page out so you can follow the directions. Next, open a browser and go to the Gas Law Simulation created by John Gelder at Oklahoma State University. Please note that you will need to have a Java installed to run this applet. You can download the java player at Java.com if it is not already installed.

Instructions: There are seven learning checks that you will send to me by email. Please fill out the Student information section, the seven learning checks, and then click on the submit button at the bottom of the page.There are more instructions integrated in the assignment. Read this page carefully.

Note:  When answering questions, you can write as much as you like.  As soon as you go past the box, a scroll bar will appear and expand the box so you can continue to write.  Write in complete sentences and use third person expository writing.  Writing grammar, spelling, and style is considered important in your responses and answers. 

Student Information
Name
School/Course/Section
Email address

Familiarize yourself with the image of He atoms in a cylinder where the pressure, volume, number of moles of atoms, types of atoms, and temperature can be varied.  Set the conditions as seen in the image below by moving the slider and making fine adjustments with the right and left arrows at the end of the arrows.  Make sure that you enable the tracking.  The tracking is the red line that tracks or shows how one of the atoms move in time and space. 

Learning Check #1
Q1. Look at the graph below and the values to the right. To three significant figures, the P, V, T conditions below have a special name.  What are these conditions commonly known as?

image of simulator

Learning Check #2
Q2.  From now on, use the graph at the website and adjust the temperature, pressure, and volume. Describe in your own words the path and motion of the atom that is being tracked. 

Pressure - Volume Relationships
You will investigate and derive the relationship between pressure and volume known as Boyle's Law.  To begin, position the simulator settings as follows: 
Pressure = select the radio button
Volume = 39.99 L
Moles of He = 1.05 atm
Temperature = 298.00 K
Your settings will look like this to begin the experiment:

 image of controls for simulation

Data Collection
 Decrease only the volume in increments of 5.00 +/- 0.08L and continue to record both the Pressure and Volume settings on a piece of paper.  Your last data point will be 5.00 +/- 0.08 L. For example, if the next volume setting is approximately 35 L with range of plus or minus  0.08 L, then an acceptable recording is 35.03 L and 1.05 atm on the paper.  After you collect this data, make another column and calculate the reciprocal volume, 1/V or V-1.  Record this data neatly on a piece of paper because your instructor might instruct you to hand the data in.  If the data will be handed in, your instructor will tell you by what method (direct or email).

Graph Instructions
Graph the data you collect as a graph on the website http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/Graphing/line_data.asp.

Construct two graphs:  Pressure vs. Volume and Pressure vs. 1/V.   Make sure you graph the pressure on the y-axis, and the volume of on the x-axis.  Don't forget to label and title your graph.

For the straight line graph, use two of your data points to determine the slope of the straight line. Print the graph and either email it to your instructor or hand it in as directed.

Learning Check #3
Q3. Based on the two graphs, summarize the relationship between pressure and volume and state Boyle's Law.  Include in your discussion inverse and direct proportionality relationships between pressure and volume and the equation for a straight line. What is the value of the slope divided by the number of moles and temperature for the experimental conditions? What is the significance of this number?



Pressure - Temperature Relationships
You will investigate and derive the relationship between pressure and temperature known as Charle's Law.  To begin, position the simulator settings as follows: 
Pressure = 2.20 atm and radio button selected
Volume = 22.40 L
Moles of He = 1.50 atm
Temperature = 400.00 K
Your settings will look like this to begin the experiment:
 image of PV settings

Data Collection
Decrease only the temperature in increments of 50.00 +/- 0.10 K and continue to record both the Pressure and Temperature settings on a piece of paper.  Your last data point will be 25.00 +/- 0.10 K.  After you collect this data, make another column and calculate the reciprocal temperature, 1/T or T-1.  Record this data neatly on a piece of paper because your instructor might instruct you to hand the data in.  If the data will be handed in, your instructor will tell you by what method (direct or email).

Graph Instructions
Graph the data you collect as a graph on the website http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/Graphing/line_data.asp . 
Construct two graphs:  Pressure vs. Temperature and Pressure vs. 1/T.   Make sure you graph the pressure on the y-axis, and the temperature of on the x-axis.  Don't forget to label and title your graph.

Use two of your data points to determine the positive slope of the straight line.
Learning Check #4
 Q4. Based on the two graphs, summarize the relationship between pressure and temperature and state how this corresponds to Charle's Law. Include in your discussion inverse and direct proportionality relationships between pressure and temperature and the equation for a straight line. In terms of Charle's Law, what is the significance of the Kelvin temperature scale being an absolute scale with no negative values?

Learning Check #5
Q5. Adjust the temperature for both He and Ne. The large bar in the graph of the particle speeds in the lower right represents the average speed of the particles. Compare and contrast the average speeds of the particles as you change the temperature.

Learning Check #6
Q6. Adjust the temperature for both He and Ne. The large bar in the graph of the particle speeds in the lower right represents the average speed of the particles. Compare and contrast the average speeds of the particles as you change the number of moles of each substance.

Learning Check #7
Q7. Adjust the temperature for both He and Ne. The area of the curve in the graph of the particle speeds in the lower right represents the average kinetic energy of the particles. Compare and contrast the average kinetic energy of the particles as you change the temperature of each substance. Hint: Does it look like the total area under the curve changes as the temperature changes?