Beginner's Guide to Propulsion
Charles and Gay-Lussac's Law
Activity

If so instructed by your teacher, print out a worksheet page for these problems.

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Before you begin:

Open The Beginners Guide to Propulsion and click on the Propulsion Index. Under Statics Gases, open the slide titled Charles and Gay-Lussac's Law. Read the information and use it to complete the activity.

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Answer the questions shown below:

1. Explain what the phrase "volume is directly proportional to the temperature" means to you.
   
   
2. If T = 1000 K and V = 10 cu. m., what does C equal?
   
   
3. Using that value for C, find:
   a. V, when T = 1,100 K
   
   b. V, when T = 1200 K
   
   c. V, when T = 800 K
   
   d. V, when T = 1,400 K

   
   

4. Plot these points on a graph, or use the plot feature on a graphic calculator. Describe the graph.
   

    

5. Open the animated version of Charles and Gay Lussac's Law slide. How does your graph compare to the graph shown here?
   
   
6. Use your graph to find:
   a. V when T = 2,000 K
   b. V when T = 600 K
   c. T when V = 15 cu. m.
   d. T when V = 3 cu. m.

    

7. Now check your answers for problems 3 and 6 by using the ratio V/T = C. Were they the same? Why or why not?
   
   
8. Take a look at your answer to question 1, does your graph agree with that answer? Why or why not?