Charles'
Law Examples in Everyday Life
The foundation of
basic physics and chemistry are a few simple but extremely important laws.
Charles' law states that, keeping everything else constant, there is a direct
relationship between the volume of a gas and its temperature as measured in
degrees Kelvin. Charles' law was first published in 1801. What's interesting is
that the person who published it, Joseph Gay-Lussac, insisted on crediting it
to Jacques Charles' unpublished work of 20 years earlier. Charles' law is seen
in action in many everyday examples. Here are some of them.
Helium Balloon on a Cold Day
If you have bought a
helium balloon for your child, you may have noticed this phenomenon. If it's
cold outside, your child's face may fall when she notices that the helium
balloon has crumpled. All isn't lost, of course, because once you enter your
warm home, the balloon returns to its original shape. This is because,
according to Charles' law, a gas takes up more space when it is warm.
Tire Pressure
Typical manufacturers
recommend that automobile tire pressures vary between around 25 to 35 pounds
per square inch. But if you read your owner's manual carefully, it will mention
that tire pressure should always be measured cold. That's because driving
around heats up tires. Charles' law states that the gas should occupy more
space when heated, but a tire does not expand very much. This causes the tire
pressure to be higher when warm. Consequently, measuring tire pressure when the
tire is warm will give you the false impression that you have filled your tires
with too much air.
The Dented Ping Pong Ball
If you are into
ping-pong, also called table tennis, a dented ping pong ball is something you
have probably encountered. Rather than discard it, you can restore it by
placing it into a saucepan half filled with water. Apply gentle heat to the
saucepan, stirring constantly. If the ball is not cracked by the dent, the air
inside will expand as it heats, pushing out the dent and restoring the ball to
its original shape.
Pool Inflatables
It's a warm sunny day.
You are careful not to pump in too much air into your inflatable raft. In spite
of that, if you leave it outside the pool, it could well pop as air inside it
heats up and expands. The solution is to pump it while the raft is in the pool;
then, leave it in the pool until you actually start using it. Deflate it
immediately after use.
Turkey Syringe Thermometer
Prior to the digital
age, some thermometers used Charles' law quite directly. Air within the
thermometer placed deep within the turkey would expand as the temperature rose.
The thermometer was calibrated so that when the correct internal temperature
was reached within the turkey, a cap affixed to the thermometer would pop off,
providing a clear visual indication that the turkey was done cooking.
Some seemingly simple
laws form the foundation of physics and chemistry. Charles' law, first
elaborated in the 1880s by Jacques Charles, explains the relatively simple
relationship between a gas's temperature and its volume. It combines with
Boyle's law to form the ideal gas law, a law of immense significance that
defines the relationship between a gas's volume, pressure, and temperature. Our
daily lives contain many examples of Charles' law in action.
REFERENCE
http://chem.answers.com/chemistry-basics/charles-law-examples-in-everyday-life
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