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 equation shows the direct proportionality between volume and absolute temperature for an ideal gas at constant pressure.

3. Importance of Charles' Law

Details: Charles' Law is crucial for understanding gas behavior, designing engines, predicting weather balloon expansion, and various industrial applications involving gases.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter initial volume in liters, temperatures in Kelvin. All values must be positive (volume > 0, temperature > 0K).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why must temperature be in Kelvin?
A: Kelvin is an absolute temperature scale where 0K represents absolute zero, ensuring the proportional relationship holds.

Q2: What are the assumptions of Charles' Law?
A: It assumes ideal gas behavior, constant pressure, and constant amount of gas (moles).

Q3: Can I use Celsius instead of Kelvin?
A: No, you must convert to Kelvin first (K = °C + 273.15) as the relationship is only valid with absolute temperature.

Q4: What real-world applications use Charles' Law?
A: Hot air balloons, internal combustion engines, cryogenics, and weather prediction all rely on Charles' Law principles.

Q5: What happens if pressure isn't constant?
A: You would need to use the combined gas law or ideal gas law instead of Charles' Law alone.