Question

An air bubble with a volume of 5.0 mL is released at the bottom of a lake where the pressure is 3.0 atm. When it reaches the surface, the bubble experiences a pressure of 1.0 atm.

Formula to use: P1V1 = P2V2

How will the volume of the air bubble change?

Answer 1

Use Boyle's law: P1V1 = P2V2. With P1 = 3.0 atm, V1 = 5.0 mL, P2 = 1.0 atm,

V2 = (P1 V1) / P2 = (3.0 × 5.0 mL) / 1.0 = 15 mL.

So the bubble expands to 15 mL (three times its original volume), assuming temperature is constant.