Introduction:
The purpose of this experiment is to determine the air pressure within a closed flask after fluctuating the volume in order calculate the overall pressure-volume product of air in the flask thus proving the verification of Boyle’s law. Boyle’s law is understood to be at constant temperature, the volume (V) of a given mass of gas has an inverse relationship to pressure (P).
We verified Boyle’s law by measuring the pressure of the air trapped due to the height of a column of dibutyl phthalate. We manipulated the syringe (containing air) so we can determine the effect of air volume changes on the pressure of the air trapped in the flask by measuring height changes in a column of dibutyl phthalate. Furthermore computed graphs to determine if our results indeed confirms Boyle’s law.
Experimental Method:
Prepare the correct apparatus (drawing below):
First, we filled the flask with water to the brim. We placed the water from the flask into a graduated cylinder to record the volume. Then with the ruler in place, we measured the height of the dibutyl phthalate in the calillary tube and the initial volume reading of the syringe. We pushed the syringe until the 45.0 mL mark to allow the dibutyl phthalate column to rest. Recorded the reading and the height on the capillary tube. We continued to decrease the syringe by increments of 5.0 mL and recording the data of heights.
Results:
See attached calculations and a set of reading which were obtained and the results were plotted on two graphs, one showing pressure vs. volume and the other pressure vs. inverse volume.
Equations:
Volume of air in flask (1):
Volume occupied in tubing (2):
Corrected volume (3):
System volume (4):
System pressure (5):
Pressure-volume product (6):
Discussion:
It was useful to understand the content of Boyle's investigations of his experiment in the late 17th century. The graph that Boyle presented was parabolic but the graph that we obtained was...