Question

A pump contains 0.5 l of air at 203 kpa. you draw back on the piston of the pump, expanding the volume until the pressure reads 50.8 kpa. what is the new volume of air in the pump? 0.2 l 1.0 l 2.0 l 4.0 l

Answer 1

To answer this item, we assume that the air is an ideal gas, such that it behaves following the ideal gas law,

    PV = nRT

If all else are equal in two systems, comparison of the relationship of the volume and pressure becomes,

   P₁V₁ = P₂V₂

Substituting the known values in the equation,

    (203 kPa)(0.5 L) = (50.8 kPa)(V₂)

The value of V₂ from the equation is 1.998 L or 2 L. 

Hence, the answer is the third choice, 2.0 L.