1. What is Charles' Law?

Charles' Law states that the volume of an ideal gas is directly proportional to its absolute temperature 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 (m³)
• \( V_2 \) — Final volume (m³)
• \( T_1 \) — Initial temperature (Kelvin)
• \( T_2 \) — Final temperature (Kelvin)

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

3. Importance of Charles' Law

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

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter initial volume in m³, temperatures in Kelvin. All values must be positive. 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 only applies to ideal gases at constant pressure. Real gases deviate at high pressures or low temperatures.

Q3: How does this relate to hot air balloons?
A: As air in the balloon is heated (T increases), its volume increases (V increases), making it less dense than surrounding air, causing lift.

Q4: Can I use Celsius instead of Kelvin?
A: No, you must convert Celsius to Kelvin first (K = °C + 273.15) as the relationship isn't linear in Celsius.

Q5: What happens if pressure changes?
A: Charles' Law doesn't apply. You would need to use the Combined Gas Law or Ideal Gas Law instead.