Understanding The Gas Equation
P=Pressure
V=Volume
T=Temperature
p=Density
Combining Boyle's and Charles laws, the gas equation becomes (where R is the gas constant):
PV=RT
Does this above mean; pressure times volume = the gas constant times temperature?
What does the 'gas constant' part mean'?
Density can also be a part of the equation. In ideal gas, as volume increases, density decreases. This is due to the mass of air being contained in a larger volume.
So:
p 1
-
V
What does the 1 mean are represent in this equation?
Substituting this into the ideal gas equation:
P
- = RT
p
How come the density becomes the volume and why it is now a divided equation which was a times equation at the start?
Re-arranging to make density the subject of the equation:
p = P
-
RT
So, maintaining a constant temperature: if pressure goes up, density goes up. Providing the pressure is constant, an increasing temperature results in decreasing density.
Cheers