When the temperature of a gas increases, its volume also increases, provided that the pressure remains constant. This relationship is described by Charles’s Law, which states that the volume of a gas is directly proportional to its temperature (in Kelvin) when pressure is held constant.
The reason behind this is that as the temperature rises, the gas molecules gain more kinetic energy. This increased energy causes the molecules to move faster and collide with the walls of their container more frequently and with greater force. As a result, the gas expands, leading to an increase in volume.
In mathematical terms, Charles’s Law can be expressed as:
V₁ / T₁ = V₂ / T₂
Where:
- V₁ is the initial volume
- T₁ is the initial temperature (in Kelvin)
- V₂ is the final volume
- T₂ is the final temperature (in Kelvin)
This law is particularly useful in understanding the behavior of gases under different temperature conditions and is a fundamental concept in thermodynamics.