EXPERIMENT 9

BOYLE’S LAW
OBJECTIVE:

To verify Boyle's Law, by determining the volume-pressure relationship of air at

constant temperature.

PROCEDURE: Caution: Do not pressure to over 4 atmospheres (405.2 kPa or 50

psia.)
Connect the apparatus to the air source if not already attached. Set the air source
pressure regulator to 50 psi. Close the air supply valve and open the vent valve.
Record the length of the column of trapped air, L. Apply various pressures to the
trapped air by bleeding air into or out of the oil chamber. Record the length of the
column of trapped air, L and the corresponding pressure, P. Repeat step 5 until at
least 7 sets of readings are obtained. If air bubbles up through the oil, false readings
will result.

EQUIPMENT:

1. Boyle’s Law apparatus.

2. Air tubing and compressed air supply.

BOYLE'S LAW APPARATUS

AIR PRESSURE
GAUGE

AIR SUPPLY

OIL

AIR COLUMN OIL CHAMBER

BOYLE'S LAW THEORY:

The volume occupied by a gas is inversely proportional to the pressure exerted by

the gas.

P 1 V 1 P2 V 2 P 3 V 3
= = =C O N S T A N T
T1 T2 T3

Now if the temperature remains constant, then

constant
P1V1 = P2V2 = constant or, P = 1 / V
Since in our apparatus, the area of the J tube bore is constant, then it follows that:
volume = area x length
volume = constant x L
volume = L
Then, P = 1/L
Note that 1 Pa = 1 N/m2 and 101300 Pa = 101.3 kPa = 1 atmosphere = 14.69 psi

DATA and GRAPH:

Air Column Length Pressure

L (cm) 1/L (cm-1) Gauge (kPa) Absolute (kPa)
1 31 0.032 0 101.3
2 21 0.048 50.65 151.95
3 15.5 0.065 101.3 202.6
4 13 0.077 151.95 253.6
5 11 0.091 202.6 303.6
6 9 0.111 253.3 354.5
7 8 0.125 303.9 405.2
8 7 0.143 354.6 455.9
 ABSOLUTE PRESSURE VS 1/L
500
450
400
350
Absolute Pressure (KPa) 300
250
200
150
100
50
0
0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.1 0.12 0.14 0.16
1/L cm¯¹

CALCULATION:

A b s o lt u e   P r es su r e=G a u g e   P r e ss u re+ A t m o s p h e ri c   Pr e s su r e
Sample Example,
At 21 psi gauge pressure = 151.95 KPa, where, Air Column Length(L) is 13 cm
and 1/L is 0.077 c m−1 .

A b s o lt u e   P r e s su r e=151.95+101.3=253.6   K P a

DISCUSSION:
As seen from the data and graph of absolute pressure versus 1/L, the inverse of volume
steadily increased with increment in pressure. It means absolute pressure inversely
proportional to the volume. For example, volume of balloon decreases when pressure around
balloon increase, and likewise, its volume will increase as decrease the pressure around a
balloon.

CONCLUSION:
Both the graph and data analysis support the theoretical statement that pressure inversely
proportional to the volume.