1. What is Charles' Law?

Charles' Law states that the volume of a given amount of gas is directly proportional to its temperature on the Kelvin scale when pressure is held constant. It's one of the fundamental gas laws in physics and chemistry.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses Charles' Law equation:

Where:

• \( V_1 \) — Initial volume (L)
• \( T_1 \) — Initial temperature (K)
• \( T_2 \) — Final temperature (K)
• \( V_2 \) — Final volume (L)

Explanation: The law shows that as temperature increases, volume increases proportionally when pressure remains constant.

3. Importance of Charles' Law

Details: Understanding Charles' Law is crucial for predicting gas behavior in various applications including hot air balloons, internal combustion engines, and weather phenomena.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter initial volume in liters, temperatures in Kelvin. All values must be positive numbers. Temperature must be in absolute scale (Kelvin).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why must temperature be in Kelvin?
A: Kelvin is an absolute temperature scale where 0 K represents absolute zero, making it necessary for gas law calculations.

Q2: What are the limitations of Charles' Law?
A: It applies only to ideal gases at constant pressure. Real gases deviate slightly, especially at high pressures or low temperatures.

Q3: How does this relate to absolute zero?
A: According to Charles' Law, at absolute zero (0 K), the volume of an ideal gas would theoretically be zero.

Q4: Can I use Celsius instead of Kelvin?
A: No, you must convert Celsius to Kelvin by adding 273.15 to the Celsius temperature.

Q5: What are some real-world applications?
A: Hot air balloons rise because heating the air increases its volume (decreasing density), baking (dough rising), and weather balloons expanding as they ascend.