Materi

als
Large plastic syringe (without
a needle)
Large marshmallow
Felt-tip pen

Proced
ure

1. Draw a face on one side of the

marshmallow and place it in
the plastic syringe so the face
can be seen from the side.
2. Place your thumb over the
end of the syringe where the
needle is usually located.
Holding your thumb in place,
push in the plunger. Observe
what
happens
to
the
marshmallow as you do so.
3. With your thumb still in place,
pull the plunger out and
observe what happens.

Question:
1. Marshmallows have bubbles of air
trapped inside. What happened to the
marshmallow when you pushed in the
plunger? What happened when the
plunger was pulled out?

Boyles Law
States that when temperature is held constant, the
volume of gas is inversely proportional to its pressure; this
means that if the pressure increases and temperature
remains the same the volume decreases

Pressure is the force per unit

area
Volume the amount of
space
occupied
by
matter

1. A sample of oxygen gas (O2) has a volume of 10.0L

and a pressure of 1.0atm. What is the new pressure if
the volume is decreased to 3.0L?
Initial
Condition

Final
Condition

Change

V1 = 10.0L

V2 = 3.0L

V decreases

P1 = 1.0 atm

P2 = ?

P must increase

2. Suppose that an 8.0L tank contain oxygen at a

pressure of 44atm. What pressure does the amount of
oxygen exert in a 55L tank at the same temperature?
Initial
Condition

Final
Condition

Change

V1 = 8.0L

V2 = 55L

V increases

P1 = 44 atm

P2 = ?

P must
decrease