Ideal Gas Law: Build your own temperature scale

This is the full-length “Ideal Gas Law” simulation. For shorter, more targeted versions, see the Related simulations below.

Just because Celsius, Fahrenheit and Kelvin defined their own temperature scales and named them after themselves, it doesn’t mean that you can’t create your own! In the Ideal Gas Law simulation, you will define the physical concept of temperature and absolute zero. You will observe how ideal gas molecules behave according to the Ideal Gas Law, and you’ll learn about the relationship between pressure, volume and temperature in gases using gas thermometry.

Define your temperature scale

Your first mission in the Ideal Gas Law simulation will be to define a unique temperature scale. In order to complete this task, you will assign the correct temperature to various reference points. You will discover at which temperature water freezes and nitrogen boils. At the end of this mission, you will be able to calculate a new value of the Boltzmann’s constant.

Formulate the Ideal Gas Law

Imagine how easy it would be to understand the behavior of an ideal gas if the gas molecules were so big that they could be seen with the naked eye. Well, in this simulation they can! The gas molecules are magnified, so you can see what is otherwise invisible. Your next mission is to define the relationship between the pressure, temperature and volume of an ideal gas sealed in a glass jar.

Experiment with gas thermometry

Handling extreme temperatures is not a hazard as long as you’re a part of this simulation! Observe the changes in the pressure of an ideal gas as you cool it down from the temperature of boiling water to the temperature of boiling nitrogen. You will have complete freedom to repeat the experiment with any amount of gas and to define the absolute zero temperature.

Are you ready to apply the Ideal Gas Law and everything you learned in gas thermometry in order to assist the transfer of an organ for a transplant surgery?