| Themes > Science > Chemistry > Inorganic Chemistry > Gas Laws > Boyle's and Charles' Laws > Charles's Law |
In 1787, a French physicist named Jacques Charles found that the volume of a gas increases linearly with its temperature, at constant pressure. When graphed, using volume on the y-axis and temperature on the x-axis, a straight line develops. In all gases, when the line is extrapolated so volume = 0, the temperature is always -273.2 C. This point is defined as 0 K, on the Kelvin temperature scale, and is called absolute zero. In physics, you will learn that it is impossible to attain absolute zero, though temperatures as low as .0001 K have been attained in laboratories. The relationship between the Kelvin and Celsius temperature scales is as follows: K = 0 C + 273. In Charles's Law, it is important to remember that you must convert to Kelvins before doing the problem (teachers love to catch you on this on your tests). Charles's Law is represented by the equation V = bT, where V = volume, b = a proportionality constant, and T = temperature (IN KELVINS!!). Practice problem |
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