GCSE Physics · Edexcel 1PH0 · Topic 14D
Gas pressure and temperature
Key points
- Gas particles move randomly at high speed. Collisions with the container walls exert a force, causing pressure.
- Raising the temperature makes particles move faster, so they hit the walls harder and more often: pressure rises (at constant volume).
- Temperature in kelvin = temperature in °C + 273. Absolute zero (0 K, −273 °C) is when particles have the least possible kinetic energy.
- The average kinetic energy of gas particles is proportional to the kelvin temperature.
- At constant temperature, for a fixed mass of gas: . Halving the volume doubles the pressure.
- Doing work on a gas (e.g. pumping a bicycle tyre) increases its internal energy and temperature (higher tier).
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The particles in a gas are constantly moving and colliding with the walls of their container. Those collisions cause gas pressure, and the particle model explains how that pressure depends on temperature and volume.
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