Student Activity Worksheet

2. Boyle's Law
How Does a Trapped Gas Behave?

Driving Question
How does a change in volume of a confined gas affect its pressure?

Materials and Equipment

For each student or group:

 Data collection system  Syringe, 20-ml or 20-cc
 Absolute pressure sensor  Plastic tubing1
 Quick-release connector1  Clean toilet plunger
 Sensor extension cable

Safety
Add this important safety precaution to your normal laboratory procedures:

 Wear protective goggles for this activity.

Thinking about the Question

Observe a clean toilet plunger pressed against a smooth surface like the floor. It may be
necessary to lightly wet the rim with a wet towel so that no more air can get under the
rim once you press down on the plunger. Propose an explanation about why the plunger
sticks to the floor when you gently pull it away.

Discuss with the members of your group whether the volume of the pocket of trapped air
changes when you pull on the plunger. Record your thoughts below. Be prepared to
share your thoughts with the class.

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Sequencing Challenge
The steps below are part of the Procedure for this lab activity. They are not in the right order. Determine
the proper order and write numbers in the circles that put the steps in the correct sequence.

Calculate the Make certain Obtain absolute Make a table of Set the initial
inverse pressure each lab group pressure data the pressure and volume of the
and graph member is aware points as you volume data syringe and then
inverse pressure of safety rules decrease the when decreasing connect it to the
versus volume. and procedures volume, then the volume and pressure sensor
What is the for this lab. begin again and when increasing (connected to the
relationship? increase volume. the volume. data collection
system).

Investigating the Question

Note: When you see the symbol "�" with a superscripted number following a step, refer to the numbered Tech
Tips listed in the Tech Tips appendix that corresponds to your PASCO data collection system. There you will find
detailed technical instructions for performing that step. Your teacher will provide you with a copy of the
instructions for these operations.

Part 1 – Making predictions

1.  Predict the effect of decreasing the volume on the pressure in the syringe (as
volumes go from 20 mL to 18 mL, 16 mL, 14 mL, 12 mL, 10 mL, 8 mL, and 6 mL)
of the syringe. Describe and explain your prediction.

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2.  Predict the effect on pressure in the syringe of increasing the volume (from 6 mL
to 8 mL, 10 mL, 12 mL, 14 mL, 16 mL, 18 mL, 20 mL) of the syringe. Describe and
explain your prediction.

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Part 2 – Decreasing the volume of trapped gas

3.  Start a new experiment on the data collection system. �(1.2)

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 Student Activity WorkSheet
4.  Put the data collection system into manual sampling mode with manually entered
data. �(5.2.1)

Note: Enter "Absolute pressure" with the units of "kPa" and "Distance" with the units of "cm", with two
digits past the decimal point displayed.

5.  Use the sensor extension cable to connect an absolute pressure sensor to the
data collection system. �(2.1)

Note: The syringe should not yet be connected to the sensor.

6.  Display Pressure on the y-axis of a graph with Volume on the x-axis. �(7.1.1)

7.  Move the plunger of the syringe to the 20 mL mark.

8.  Connect one end of the plastic tube to the syringe. Attach the other end of the
tube (with the quick-release connector) to the pressure sensor by twisting until it
clicks into place. Check with your teacher if you have any questions about how to
connect this system properly.

Tubing
Quick-release connector

9.  Start a new manually sampled data set. �(6.3.1)

10.  Move the plunger to the 18 mL mark. Record this data point. �(6.3.2)

11.  Move the plunger to the 16 mL mark. Record this data point (both pressure and
volume). �(6.3.2).

12.  Move the plunger to the 14 mL mark. Record this data point �(6.3.2)

13.  Move the plunger to the 12 mL mark. Record this data point �(6.3.2)

14.  Continue recording data points as you decrease the volume in the syringe by 2
mL increments, until you reach a volume of 6 mL.

15.  When you have recorded all of your data, stop the data set. �(6.3.3)

Part 3 – Increasing the volume of trapped gas

16.  Disconnect the tube from the pressure sensor.

17.  Move the plunger of the syringe to the 2 mL mark.

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Boyle's Law
18.  Display a new graph with Pressure on the y-axis and Time on the x-axis. �(7.1.1)

19.  Reconnect the tube to the pressure sensor.

20.  Start a new manually sampled data set. �(6.3.1)

21.  With the plunger at 2 mL, record this data point �(6.3.2)

22.  Move the plunger to the 4 mL mark. Record this data point �(6.3.2)

23.  Move the plunger to the 6 mL mark. Record this data point �(6.3.2)

24.  Move the plunger to the 8 mL mark. Record this data point �(6.3.2)

25.  Continue recording data points as you increase the volume in the syringe by 2 mL
increments, until you reach a volume of 20 mL.

26.  Stop data recording. �(6.3.3)

27.  Save your experiment �(11.1)

and clean up according to your teacher's instructions.

Answering the Question

1. What type of relationship did you see when you decreased the volume of trapped air?

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2. Using data from the first data run when decreasing the volume of trapped gas,
complete Table 1. Calculate the value of 1/Pressure for each volume.

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 Student Activity WorkSheet

Table 1: Pressure with decreasing volume

Decreasing Pressure (kPa) 1/Pressure (kPa–1)

Volume (mL)

20

18

16

14

12

10

3. Graph 1/Pressure versus Volume using the data in Table 1.

4. Does the graph show a direct or an inverse relationship? Explain your reasoning.

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5. What type of relationship did you see when you increased the volume of trapped air?

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Boyle's Law
6. Using data from your second graph, when increasing the syringe volume, complete
Table 2. Calculate the value of 1/Pressure for each volume.

Table 2: Pressure with increasing volume

Increasing Pressure (kPa) 1/Pressure (kPa–1)

Volume (mL)

10

12

14

16

18

20

7. Graph 1/Pressure versus Volume using the data in Table 2.

8. Did the graph show a direct or an inverse relationship? Explain your reasoning.

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9. Describe the similarities and differences for both 1/Pressure versus Volume graphs.

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10. Explain how the graphs display Boyle’s Law. Be prepared to share your thoughts with
the class.

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True or False

Enter a "T" if the statement is true or an "F" if it is false.

_______________1. Collisions between air molecules and the walls of their container create
pressure.

_______________2. There is a direct relationship between the volume of a gas and its
pressure, when the gas is held at a constant temperature.

_______________3. In the SI system, pressure is measured in units called newtons.

_______________4. The graph of increasing volume versus increasing pressure is a straight

line.

_______________5. The inverse of a number is equal to one divided by the number.

Multiple Choice

Circle the best answer or completion to each of the questions or incomplete statements below.

1. Which is the best way to characterize an inverse relationship?

A. As one quantity decreases, the other quantity decreases at the same rate.
B. As one quantity increases, the other quantity decreases proportionally.
C. As one quantity increases, the other quantity undergoes a random change.

2. Air molecules confined in a closed volume undergo more collisions when that volume:

A. Decreases
B. Increases
C. Is chilled by at least 10 degrees Celsius

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3. The inverse of 4.0 is equal to:

A. 40.0
B. 1.0
C. 0.25

4. Suppose you are given a closed air-tight container that holds a particular gas at room
temperature. You then squeeze the container and put a big dent in it. Which of the
following is not true about the gas inside the dented container?

A. There is less room for the gas molecules that are sealed inside the container.
B. There are exactly as many gas molecules now as there were before you dented
the container.
C. The pressure of the gas has remained the same as it was before you dented
the container.

5. The relationship between the volume of a gas and its pressure can be seen in which
example?

A. The adhesive used to glue labels onto containers

B. A suction cup used to attach something to a wall
C. An empty balloon waiting to be inflated with helium gas

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