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Figure 1 shows a fixed mass of gas inside a cylinder with a movable piston - Edexcel - GCSE Physics - Question 2 - 2018 - Paper 1
Question 2
Figure 1 shows a fixed mass of gas inside a cylinder with a movable piston. (i) Describe, in terms of gas particles, how the gas exerts a pressure on the cylinder. ... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Figure 1 shows a fixed mass of gas inside a cylinder with a movable piston - Edexcel - GCSE Physics - Question 2 - 2018 - Paper 1
Step 1
Describe, in terms of gas particles, how the gas exerts a pressure on the cylinder.
Answer
Gas particles are in constant motion and collide with the walls of the container, which in this case is the cylinder. Each collision of the gas particles with the walls exerts a force on the cylinder. The pressure exerted by the gas is a result of the cumulative effect of these collisions. More specifically, as gas particles continually bombard the sides of the cylinder, they exert a force, thus creating pressure within the cylinder.
Step 2
State what happens to the pressure the gas exerts on the cylinder when the volume of gas is reduced, as in Figure 2.
Answer
When the volume of the gas is reduced, the pressure of the gas increases. This is due to the gas particles being confined to a smaller space, leading to more frequent collisions with the walls of the cylinder.