According to gas laws, if the volume increases, what happens to the pressure?

Prepare for the ASU BIO202 Human Anatomy and Physiology II Exam. Study with detailed questions and explanations. Master your exam material!

When the volume of a gas increases, the pressure of the gas decreases, which is a fundamental concept derived from Boyle's Law. Boyle's Law states that the pressure of a gas is inversely proportional to its volume when temperature is held constant. This means that as the volume increases, the gas particles have more space to move around, resulting in fewer collisions with the walls of the container. With fewer collisions, the pressure exerted by the gas on the walls of the container decreases.

In contrast, if the volume were held constant, any increase in the number of gas particles would increase the pressure as collisions would become more frequent. Therefore, understanding the relationship detailed in Boyle's Law illustrates why an increase in volume leads to a decrease in pressure.

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