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| title | chunk | source | category | tags | date_saved | instance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boyle's law | 2/2 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boyle's_law | reference | science, encyclopedia | 2026-05-05T13:31:18.892155+00:00 | kb-cron |
The mathematical equation for Boyle's law is:
P
V
=
k
{\displaystyle PV=k}
where P denotes the pressure of the system, V denotes the volume of the gas, k is a constant value representative of the temperature of the system and amount of gas. So long as temperature remains constant the same amount of energy given to the system persists throughout its operation and therefore, theoretically, the value of k will remain constant. However, due to the derivation of pressure as perpendicular applied force and the probabilistic likelihood of collisions with other particles through collision theory, the application of force to a surface may not be infinitely constant for such values of V, but will have a limit when differentiating such values over a given time. Forcing the volume V of the fixed quantity of gas to increase, keeping the gas at the initially measured temperature, the pressure P must decrease proportionally. Conversely, reducing the volume of the gas increases the pressure. Boyle's law is used to predict the result of introducing a change, in volume and pressure only, to the initial state of a fixed quantity of gas. The initial and final volumes and pressures of the fixed amount of gas, where the initial and final temperatures are the same (heating or cooling will be required to meet this condition), are related by the equation:
P
1
V
1
=
P
2
V
2
.
{\displaystyle P_{1}V_{1}=P_{2}V_{2}.}
Here P1 and V1 represent the original pressure and volume, respectively, and P2 and V2 represent the second pressure and volume. Boyle's law, Charles's law, and Gay-Lussac's law form the combined gas law. The three gas laws in combination with Avogadro's law can be generalized by the ideal gas law.
== Human breathing system == Boyle's law is often used as part of an explanation on how the breathing system works in the human body. This commonly involves explaining how the lung volume may be increased or decreased and thereby cause a relatively lower or higher air pressure within them (in keeping with Boyle's law). This forms a pressure difference between the air inside the lungs and the environmental air pressure, which in turn precipitates either inhalation or exhalation as air moves from high to low pressure.
== See also == Related phenomena:
Water thief Industrial Revolution Steam engine Other gas laws:
Dalton's law – Empirical law of partial pressures Charles's law – Relationship between volume and temperature of a gas at constant pressure Ideal gas law – Equation of the state of a hypothetical ideal gas
== Citations ==
== External links == Media related to Boyle's Law at Wikimedia Commons