Gay–Lussac (pressure) law – proportionality at constant volume According to the pressure law, the absolute pressure of a fixed mass of a perfect gas varies __________ with its absolute temperature when the volume is held constant.
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Adirectly
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Bindirectly
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Clogarithmically
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Das the square root of
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Eindependently of
Answer
Correct Answer: directly
Explanation
Introduction / Context:Gay–Lussac’s pressure law (also called Amontons’ law) describes how pressure changes with temperature for a gas in a rigid container. It is one of the fundamental ideal-gas relationships used in thermodynamics and gas dynamics.
Given Data / Assumptions:
- Fixed mass of a perfect gas.
- Volume constant (isochoric process).
- Absolute scales for pressure and temperature are used.
Concept / Approach:From the ideal-gas equation pV = mRT, at constant V and m, pressure is proportional to temperature: p ∝ T. Thus, when temperature increases, pressure increases in direct proportion provided the gas behaves ideally and the container volume does not change.
Step-by-Step Solution:1) Write pV = mRT.2) For fixed V and m, rearrange to p = (mR/V) * T.3) Coefficient (mR/V) is constant → p ∝ T.4) Therefore select “directly.”
Verification / Alternative check:Plotting p against T for an isochoric process yields a straight line through the origin when using absolute units, consistent with the law and common laboratory observations with pressure gauges and gas bulbs.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
- Indirectly/logarithmically/square root/independent: none match the linear proportionality dictated by the ideal-gas equation at constant volume.
Common Pitfalls:Using Celsius instead of kelvin; a linear relation holds only with absolute temperature.
Final Answer:directly