In Charles’ Law, the constant refers to the relationship between the volume and temperature of a gas at constant pressure. According to Charles’ Law, the volume of a gas is directly proportional to its temperature (in Kelvin) when the pressure is held constant. This relationship can be expressed mathematically as:
V ∝ T
or
V = kT
where:
- V is the volume of the gas,
- T is the temperature of the gas in Kelvin,
- k is the constant of proportionality.
The constant k remains the same for a given amount of gas at constant pressure. This means that if you increase the temperature of the gas, its volume will also increase proportionally, and vice versa, as long as the pressure remains unchanged.
Charles’ Law is one of the fundamental gas laws and is essential for understanding the behavior of gases under different conditions. It is often used in various scientific and engineering applications, such as in the design of engines and the study of atmospheric phenomena.