1. Set Volume = 100, Molecules = 25, Temperature = 300 K. Press ▶ Play.
2. Observe the molecules. Watch how they hit the walls.
3. Increase the temperature to 600 K. Observe the change.
Q1: Describe what you observe when temperature increases. Use the words speed, collision, pressure.
Q2: Keep temperature at 600 K. Increase the number of molecules to 50. Explain why the pressure reading changes.
Task 2: Boyle's Law Investigation
5.205.22
Instructions: Fix Temperature = 300 K. Fix Molecules = 25. Change Volume and record the pressure. Switch to p–V Graph mode to see the relationship.
Volume (cm³)
Pressure (×10⁵ Pa)
pV
50
—
75
—
100
—
150
—
200
—
Q: Are the pV values approximately constant? What law does this confirm?
Task 3: Pressure–Temperature Law
5.205.21
Instructions: Fix Volume = 100. Fix Molecules = 25. Vary Temperature and record pressure. Switch to p–T Graph mode.
Temp (K)
Pressure (×10⁵ Pa)
p/T
100
—
200
—
300
—
500
—
700
—
Q: Are the p/T values constant? What does this tell you about the relationship between p and T?
Task 4: Calculation Verification
5.215.22
Use the simulation to verify your calculations. Set up the initial conditions, then change one variable and check whether the simulation matches the formula.
Test 1 — Boyle's Law:
Set: T = 300 K, V = 100, n = 25. Read off initial pressure p₁.
p₁ =not recorded
Now change volume to 50. Using p₁V₁ = p₂V₂, calculate predicted p₂:
× 10⁵ Pa
Now set V = 50 in the simulation and read the actual pressure:
actual p₂ =not recorded
Task 5: Extension — Absolute Zero
5.165.175.19
Switch to p–T Graph mode. Set Volume = 100, Molecules = 25.
Q1: The p–T graph passes through the origin (0 K, 0 Pa). Explain what this tells us physically — what is happening to the gas molecules at 0 K, and why is this called absolute zero?
Q2: Why does the simulation not allow you to set the temperature to 0 K? What assumption does this reveal about the ideal gas model?
Q3 — Challenge: Set Volume = 100, Molecules = 25. Record the pressure at 300 K and again at 600 K. Calculate p/T for each reading and compare them. What does a constant p/T value tell you about the relationship between pressure and temperature?