How does temperature affect gas pressure in a sealed tank?
Temperature and Pressure Relationship in a Sealed Tank
The ideal gas law states that the pressure of a gas in a sealed container is directly related to its temperature when volume and amount of gas are held constant. This means that as temperature increases, the pressure also increases, and vice versa, when volume is constant.
Effect of Decreased Temperature on Pressure:
When the temperature inside the sealed tank is decreased, the particles in the gas lose kinetic energy and move more slowly. As a result, they collide with the walls of the tank less frequently and with less force, leading to a decrease in pressure.
Calculation of Pressure Change:
By using the formula (T1)(P2) = (T2)(P1) and converting the temperatures to Kelvin, we can determine the pressure change. In this case, decreasing the temperature from 30°C to 10°C results in a pressure decrease from 101.5 kPa to 94.8 kPa.
Conclusion:
Therefore, when the temperature is decreased in a sealed tank with constant volume, the pressure also decreases due to the inverse relationship between temperature and pressure in ideal gases.