Question 1: Define gas pressure in terms of particle motion.

Answer: Gas pressure is the force exerted per unit area on the walls of a container caused by particles colliding with the walls as they move randomly.

Question 2: Explain how increasing the temperature of a gas affects the motion of its particles and the resulting pressure.

Answer: Increasing temperature raises the average kinetic energy of particles, causing them to move faster and collide more forcefully with container walls, which increases gas pressure.

Question 3: What is the typical range of particle speeds in a gas at room temperature?

Answer: Particle speeds in a gas at room temperature (around 25°C) typically range from about 500 to 1500 metres per second.

Question 4: Calculate the pressure exerted by 2.0 x 10^25 particles in a 1.0 m³ container at room temperature (assume ideal gas behaviour). Use the ideal gas law: PV = nRT. (R = 8.31 J/(mol·K), T = 298 K, molar mass not needed).

Answer: P = 4.14 x 10^3 Pascals

Question 5: Describe a simple experiment to investigate how particle speed affects gas pressure.

Answer: An experiment can involve heating a sealed, flexible container of gas and measuring the change in volume or pressure with temperature. Alternatively, using a setup with a manometer to measure pressure changes as the temperature varies allows analysis of how increased particle speed from heating leads to increased pressure.

Question 6: Identify three variables that can affect the pressure of a gas in a sealed container.

Answer: Temperature, volume of the container, and number of particles (or amount of gas).

Question 7: A container of gas is compressed to half its original volume at constant temperature. What happens to the gas pressure? Explain your answer.

Answer: The pressure doubles because, at constant temperature, pressure is inversely proportional to volume according to Boyle's Law.

Question 8: In industry, why is understanding particle motion important for designing efficient gas turbines?

Answer: Understanding particle motion helps optimise airflow and combustion processes, increasing efficiency and safety of turbines by predicting pressure and temperature changes.

Question 9: Describe how temperature measurements can be used to infer changes in particle speed in a gas.

Answer: Higher temperature readings indicate increased average kinetic energy of particles, meaning they move faster. By measuring temperature with a thermometer, scientists can estimate the average particle speed assuming ideal gas behaviour.

Question 10: Explain why gases are considered to have particles moving randomly in all directions.

Answer: Gases have particles moving randomly in all directions due to constant collisions and lack of intermolecular forces, leading to isotropic motion.

Question 11: What safety precautions should be considered when performing experiments involving gases at high pressure or temperature?

Answer: Ensure the container is rated for high pressure, perform experiments in well-ventilated areas, use protective equipment such as goggles and gloves, and avoid rapid temperature changes to prevent container rupture.