Boyle’s Law—Inquiry Lab Kit For AP® Physics 2

Product Details

AP Physics 2, Big Idea 5, Investigation 3

Physics and chemistry often overlap, perhaps most significantly in their ability to form joint explanations of the behavior of gases. The four variables used to describe a gas—pressure, volume, temperature and moles—are intimately related. As one or more variables change, one or more of the others also change, in direct or inverse relation. This advanced-inquiry investigation explores the relationship between the pressure of a gas and the volume of the container in which it is held, as well as how a gas performs work or is worked upon.

The purpose of this advanced inquiry investigation is to derive a mathematical equation describing the relationship between the pressure and volume of a gas at constant temperature. In the introductory part of the experiment, students learn how to set up a special apparatus and quantify the amount of applied force to compress the gas. In the guided-inquiry portion of the experiment, students are challenged to derive the relationship between pressure and volume by constructing graphs, which they must further interpret to determine the amount of work done on or by the gas.

Complete for 24 students working in groups of three. All materials are reusable.