Charles's Law Calculator
Calculate volume and temperature relationships using Charles's Law for ideal gases
Table of Contents
How to Use
- Select what you want to calculate (V₁, T₁, V₂, or T₂)
- Choose your preferred units for volume and temperature
- Enter the three known values
- Click calculate to find the unknown value
What is Charles's Law?
Charles's Law, also known as the law of volumes, describes the relationship between the volume and temperature of a gas when the pressure and amount of gas remain constant.
The law states that the volume of a gas is directly proportional to its absolute temperature (in Kelvin). This means that as temperature increases, volume increases, and as temperature decreases, volume decreases.
Charles's Law Formula
The mathematical expression of Charles's Law is:
V₁ / T₁ = V₂ / T₂
Where:
- V₁ = Initial volume
- T₁ = Initial absolute temperature (Kelvin)
- V₂ = Final volume
- T₂ = Final absolute temperature (Kelvin)
This formula can be rearranged to solve for any of the four variables when the other three are known.
Real-World Applications
- Hot air balloons: Heating air causes it to expand, making the balloon rise
- Automobile tires: Tire pressure increases on hot days as air expands
- Bread baking: Dough rises as yeast produces CO₂ that expands when heated
- Weather balloons: Expand as they rise to higher altitudes with lower pressure
- Thermometers: Liquid expansion with temperature is based on this principle
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why must temperature be in Kelvin for Charles's Law?
- Charles's Law requires absolute temperature (Kelvin) because it's based on proportional relationships. Using Celsius or Fahrenheit would give incorrect results since these scales include negative values and don't start at absolute zero.
- What happens to gas volume when temperature doubles?
- If you double the absolute temperature (in Kelvin) while keeping pressure constant, the volume will also double. For example, gas at 300K will have twice the volume at 600K.
- Can Charles's Law be used for liquids or solids?
- No, Charles's Law only applies to gases. Liquids and solids have much smaller thermal expansion coefficients and don't follow this relationship.
- What is the relationship between Charles's Law and hot air balloons?
- Hot air balloons work by heating air inside the balloon, which increases its volume according to Charles's Law. The expanded air is less dense than the surrounding cooler air, creating buoyancy that lifts the balloon.
Related Calculators
science
Acceleration Calculator
science
Alcohol Dilution Calculator – Solution Concentration