True or False:
a. Gases have a definite volume but an indefinite shape.
b. Gases flow from regions of low pressure to regions of high pressure.
c. Atmospheric pressure decreases as you increase in altitude.
d. Gas pressure is defined as the force exerted by gas particles against the walls of the container.
The correct answer and explanation is :
Here are the answers to your statements with explanations:
a. True or False: Gases have a definite volume but an indefinite shape.
- Answer: False.
- Explanation: Gases do not have a definite volume. Unlike solids or liquids, gases do not have a fixed volume. The volume of a gas is dependent on the container it is in. Gases are highly compressible and expand to fill the shape and the entire volume of any container they occupy. So, while gases do have an indefinite shape (they take the shape of the container), they also do not have a definite volume.
b. True or False: Gases flow from regions of low pressure to regions of high pressure.
- Answer: False.
- Explanation: Gases flow from regions of high pressure to regions of low pressure, not the other way around. This is governed by the principle of pressure differences. When there is a pressure gradient, gas molecules will move from areas of higher pressure, where there are more molecules in a given space, to areas of lower pressure, where there are fewer molecules, to balance the pressure.
c. True or False: Atmospheric pressure decreases as you increase in altitude.
- Answer: True.
- Explanation: Atmospheric pressure decreases with increasing altitude. As you go higher in the atmosphere, the air density decreases, meaning there are fewer air molecules above you exerting pressure. At sea level, atmospheric pressure is at its highest, but as altitude increases, the air becomes thinner, and the pressure drops. This is why mountaineers use oxygen tanks at high altitudes.
d. True or False: Gas pressure is defined as the force exerted by gas particles against the walls of the container.
- Answer: True.
- Explanation: Gas pressure is indeed defined as the force exerted by gas particles when they collide with the walls of their container. Gas molecules are in constant, random motion, and as they collide with the container’s walls, they exert force. This force per unit area is what we recognize as gas pressure. The more frequent and forceful the collisions, the higher the gas pressure.
Here is an illustration showing gas particles in motion and the force they exert against the walls of a container, which represents gas pressure. The particles are constantly colliding with the walls, and this continuous movement and impact result in the force that creates pressure.