At constant volume, if the pressure of a gas doubles, what happens to the temperature (in terms of the initial temperature T1)?

At constant volume, if the pressure of a gas doubles, what happens to the temperature (in terms of the initial temperature T1)?

• A. 2T1
• B. T1
• C. 4T1
• D. T1/2

Answer: (B)

The main idea is that at a fixed volume, the pressure of a gas is directly proportional to its temperature in Kelvin (P = nRT/V). If the pressure doubles, the temperature must also double to keep the ratio P/T the same. So the final temperature is T2 = (P2/P1) T1 = 2 T1. The temperature must be in Kelvin for this proportionality to hold.

The main idea is that at a fixed volume, the pressure of a gas is directly proportional to its temperature in Kelvin (P = nRT/V). If the pressure doubles, the temperature must also double to keep the ratio P/T the same. So the final temperature is T2 = (P2/P1) T1 = 2 T1. The temperature must be in Kelvin for this proportionality to hold.