This lesson allows a student to discover by simulated experiment the various laws that govern the behaviour of ideal gases. Simulations correspond to those in SIR Ideal, and this lesson appears to be most effective if it has been introduced using SIR Ideal.
The first chapter allows the student to explore pressure within a mercury barometer, and then deduce how a manometer works It provides practice reading one to determine gas pressure in torr. This section uses some of the simulations found in SIR Torr.
The second chapter introduces a simulated experimental setup, which provides the student with a control panel. On-screen notebooks, graphing facilities, data tables, a calculator and helpful suggestions are provided.
Chapter 3 is concerned with Avogadro’s Law. The student may choose various amounts of the five gases provided at a fixed temperature and pressure, and enter the resulting volumes into a notebook. A graphing facility is provided, which plots the volume against the masses of gases. The student’s comprehension is tested by a quiz, in which the volume of a specified mass of one gas is requested, given the volume of a certain mass of another gas at the same temperature and pressure. The chapter ends with a resume of the student’s experimental results, a statement of Avogadro’s law and further problems.
Chapter 4 is similarly concerned with Boyle’s Law, and Chapter 5 with Charles' Law.
Finally, in Chapter 6, the student is given a summary of the three separate laws, then asked which, of a number of possible V(n,T,P) relationships, best embodies them all. The ideal gas law is deduced, and the student is asked to determine the gas constant, R, experimentally, using the apparatus. The experiment is judged for accuracy, precision and procedure. For example, several determinations should be made, using various gases and a reasonably wide range of temperature and pressure.
The experiment is given an informal score out of 100. This is not recorded.
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Updated July 18, 2000