Rethinking the Ideal Gas Law Using Graphs

Autor/in	Wang, Fei
Titel	Rethinking the Ideal Gas Law Using Graphs
Quelle	In: Physics Teacher, 60 (2022) 7, S.600-601 (2 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0031-921X
Schlagwörter	Physics; Scientific Principles; Fuels; Graphs; Equations (Mathematics); Measurement; Investigations; Science Experiments; College Science; Science Instruction; Heuristics + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Physik; Treibstoff; Grafische Darstellung; Equations; Mathematics; Gleichungslehre; Messverfahren; Untersuchung; Teaching of science; Science education; Natural sciences Lessons; Naturwissenschaftlicher Unterricht; Heuristik
Abstract	The ideal gas law, "PV = nRT," is one of the simplest physical laws in nature that is introduced to students as early as in high school and first year in college. In this equation, "P" stands for pressure, "V" is the volume, "n" is the amount expressed in mole, "T" is the temperature in Kelvin scale, and "R" is the ideal gas constant. The traditional approach of introducing the ideal gas law involves three historical experiments by Robert Boyle, Jacque Charles, and Amedeo Avogadro. They each observed that "V [direct proportionality] 1/P," "V [direct proportionality] T," and "V [direct proportionality] n," respectively. Mathematically, we can put them together to yield "V [direct proportionality] nT/P." Designating the proportionality constant as "R," we have "V = R . nT/P" or "PV = nRT" as is mostly written. I call this the "bottom-up" approach in which we make individual measurements first and then consolidate them into one unified equation. In this paper, the author presents a logical way to unite the three gas laws together, a "top-down" approach where a systematic logical investigation is performed first, and then proposes a series of experiments that are both minimal and optimal. It provides a new theoretical perspective to the experimental facts and a new way of presenting the ideal gas law at the college intro level through a heuristic approach. (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	American Association of Physics Teachers. One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740. Tel: 301-209-3300; Fax: 301-209-0845; e-mail: pubs@aapt.org; Web site: http://aapt.scitation.org/journal/pte
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2024/1/01