Temperature and pressure of gases
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Explainer Video
Summary
Temperature and pressure of gases
In a nutshell
Temperature is a measure of the average kinetic energy of the particles in a system. For a gas in a container of constant volume, temperature is directly proportional to pressure.
Gas pressure and temperature
Heating a substance may increase its temperature by causing its particles to move around or vibrate faster. Gas particles are free to move around. As they move, they collide with the walls of their container, exerting a force (and therefore pressure) on it.
Increasing the temperature of a gas increases the speed of the particles, which means they collide with the walls more frequently. More collisions per second means more momentum transferred per unit time, so the particles exert more force (and therefore pressure) on the container.
Therefore, when volume is constant, pressure is directly proportional to temperature.
The temperature of a gas can also be increased by doing work on it. By applying a force to a system it is possible to increase the kinetic energy of its particles and therefore increase its temperature.
FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions
What is temperature?
Temperature is a measure of the average kinetic energy of the particles in a system.
Why does increasing temperature increase gas pressure?
Increasing the temperature of a gas increases the kinetic energy of its particles, which means they move around faster, so they collide with the walls of their container more frequently and exert more force (and therefore pressure).
Does higher gas pressure mean higher temperature?
If the volume of the gas is fixed at a constant (the walls of its container are immovable) then increasing its temperature will result in an increase in pressure.