LAB – BOYLE’S LAW (Online simulation)
Introduction:
Boyle’s Law studies the relationship between pressure and volume of a gas at a constant
temperature. Boyle realized that as the volume of a gas increases, the pressure it exerts on the
walls of a closed container decreases. He discovered that pressure is inversely proportional to
volume, and that the product of the two variables is constant. In this lab, you will study the
relationship between pressure and volume of a confined gas.
Materials:
 Computer
 Boyle’s Law Lab simulation – URL listed below, or it can be accessed on my SchoolWires page
from the Schreiber Home Page
http://group.chem.iastate.edu/Greenbowe/sections/projectfolder/flashfiles/gaslaw/boyles_law_graph.html
Procedure:
Use capital G
1. Go to the website listed above.
2. You will see a setup that includes a closed container (syringe) and a pressure gauge. See
image 1 below.
3. Before beginning the experiment, see how the apparatus works. To decrease the volume of
the syringe, click on the plunger and drag your mouse up. You will see a data point recorded
in the table to the right of the apparatus.
4. Once you are confident that you know how to operate the apparatus, clear the data table by
clicking “Clear Data” before you begin the experiment.
5. You will be testing Air. Click on the plunger, and drag your mouse up to the 5mL marking on
the syringe. Release the mouse, and you will see your first data point appear in the data
table.
6. Repeat Step 5 for the following volumes as marked on the syringe: 10mL, 15mL, 20mL, 25mL,
30mL. If an error is made on one of the readings, click “Delete Record” and the last data
point taken will be deleted.
7. Once you have collected a total of 6 data points, click on “Graph” and a graph will appear.
Click “Print Result” and print the Pressure vs. Volume Graph.
8. After the graph is printed, circle your data points and connect them with a smooth line.
Image 1
Data/Calculations:
Complete the data table using the data collected from the website.
Volume (mL)
Pressure (psi)
Constant k (P*V)
Boyle’s Law  P1V1 = P2V2
P1 – initial pressure
V1– initial volume
P2– final pressure
V2– final volume
Discussion/Questions:
1. Boyle determined that the product of pressure and volume was a constant. How constant
were the values for k that you determined from your measurements?
2. What experimental factors are assumed to be constant in this experiment?
3. Is the relationship between pressure and volume direct or indirect? Explain.
4. When the volume is doubled from 10mL to 20mL, what happens to the pressure? Show work.
5. When the volume is halved from 30mL to 15mL, what happens to the pressure? Show work.
6. When the volume is tripled from 10mL to 30mL, what happens to the pressure? Show work.
7. The volume of a gas at 5atm is increased from 50mL to 80mL at constant temperature.
What is the final pressure of the gas? Show work and units.