Grade 11 Practical Worksheet: Verifying Boyle's Law
Title: Verification of Boyle's Law
Objective: To verify Boyle's Law, which states that the pressure of a given mass of gas is inversely proportional to its volume when temperature is held constant.
Apparatus:
- Boyle's Law apparatus (typically includes a sealed gas syringe or a J-tube)
- Pressure gauge (manometer)
- Stopwatch (if needed for timed measurements)
- Weights (for applying known forces if using a piston system)
- Thermometer (to monitor temperature)
- Ruler or measuring tape (for measuring volumes)
- Data recording sheet (to note observations)
Safety Precautions:
- Ensure all apparatus is properly set up and secure before beginning the experiment.
- Handle weights carefully to prevent injury.
- Do not exceed the maximum pressure limit of the apparatus to avoid breakage.
Theory: Boyle's Law is mathematically expressed as P1V1 = P2V2, where P represents pressure and V represents volume. The product of pressure and volume is constant for a given mass of gas at a constant temperature.
Procedure:
-
Setup:
- Assemble the apparatus as per the manufacturer’s instructions. Make sure the gas syringe or J-tube is connected securely to the pressure gauge.
- Check that the apparatus is airtight to prevent gas leakage.
-
Initial Measurement:
- Begin with an initial gas volume (V1). Record the corresponding pressure (P1) from the pressure gauge.
- Ensure the temperature remains constant throughout the experiment.
-
Changing Volume:
- Gradually compress the gas by pulling the syringe plunger out or using weights on a piston to change the volume.
- Record the new volume (V2) and the new pressure (P2) once the system stabilizes.
-
Repeating Steps:
- Repeat the process to obtain multiple sets of volume and pressure readings.
- It is useful to take at least five different volume readings to ensure reliable results.
-
Data Collection:
- Record all measurements in a data table.
Data Table Example:
| Trial | Volume (V) (cm³) | Pressure (P) (kPa) | P × V (kPa·cm³) | |-------|------------------|---------------------|------------------| | 1 | V1 | P1 | P1 × V1 | | 2 | V2 | P2 | P2 × V2 | | 3 | V3 | P3 | P3 × V3 | | 4 | V4 | P4 | P4 × V4 | | 5 | V5 | P5 | P5 × V5 |
Analysis:
-
Calculating Products:
- Calculate the product of pressure and volume for each trial and fill in the last column of your data table.
-
Graphical Representation:
- Plot a graph of Pressure (P) against Volume (V) or Volume against Pressure on a graph with axes labeled appropriately.
- You can also plot P against 1/V (which should yield a straight line if the law is verified).
-
Conclusion:
- Analyze your results. According to Boyle's Law, the product (P × V) should remain constant throughout your trials.
- Discuss any discrepancies or errors and how they might affect your results.
Conclusion: Discuss whether your results support Boyle's Law. If you observe that P × V is approximately constant, you can conclude that Boyle's Law is verified for the conditions of your experiment.
Reflection: What did you learn from this experiment? What challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them? How might this experiment apply to real-world scenarios involving gases?
Notes:
- Make sure to follow up with any calculations or discussions as required by your instructor.
- Cleanup the workspace and properly store all equipment after the experiment.