Worked Example
Kinetic molecular theory provides a useful model for understanding temperature. This is important in climate science because it allows us to understand the temperature of the atmosphere. Using kinetic molecular theory, explain why the pressure of a gas sample must increase if the temperature of the sample increases and the volume remains the same.
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If the temperature increases, the speed at which the molecules move will increase. As the speed of the molecules increases and the volume remains constant, the molecules will collide more often with the walls of the container and they will also collide with greater force. When both the number of collisions with the walls of the container and the force of the collisions increase, the pressure will also increase.