2.2.1

Ideal Gases

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The Kelvin Scale

The Kelvin scale is a temperature scale that is commonly used in science.

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The Kelvin scale

  • The Kelvin scale is an absolute temperature scale defined to have 0 K at the lowest possible temperature, called absolute zero.
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Absolute zero

  • Absolute zero (0 K) is the lowest possible temperature.
  • At absolute zero, there is no temperature.
    • This means that there is no kinetic energy or vibration of molecules.
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Converting from degrees Celsius to Kelvin

  • To find degrees Celsius from Kelvin, just add 273.15.
    • E.g. 0oC = 273.15 K.
    • E.g. Water boils at 373.15 K.

Ideal Gas Law

The ideal gas law is a good model for the behaviours of large amounts of gas.

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Ideal gas law

  • The ideal gas law can be written as:
    • Pressure x volume = number of moles x ideal gas constant x temperature
    • pV=nRT
      • Where R is the ideal gas constant and has a value of 8.31
  • This equation can be rearranged to solve for any of the terms.
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Boltzmann constant

  • Ideal gas constant x number of moles = Boltzmann constant x number of molecules
    • Rn=kNRn=kN
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Avogadro's number

  • This equation gives the relationship between the ideal gas constant, the Boltzmann constant and Avogadro's number (the number of molecules in a mole):
    • Na=R/kN{_a}=R/k
  • Using the ideal gas law and the above equation, we can now write:
    • pV=NkTpV=NkT

Jump to other topics

1Space, Time & Motion

2The Particulate Nature of Matter

3Wave Behaviour

4Fields

4.1Circular Motion

4.2Newton's Law of Gravitation

4.3Fields

4.4Fields at Work

4.5Electric Fields

4.6Magnetic Effect of Electric Currents

4.7Heating Effect of Currents

4.8Electromagnetic Induction

4.9Power Generation & Transmission

4.10Capacitance

5Nuclear & Quantum Physics

6Measurements

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