Question

Steve wants to investigate the expansion and contraction of gases at different temperatures. He knows that at higher temperatures, gas particles move faster. His hypothesis is that at higher temperatures the faster particle motion causes gas to expand. He fills three balloons with the same amount of gas and heats the gas in each balloon to different temperatures. The test (independent) variable is the temperature of the gas. Which statement describes how the outcome (dependent) variable changes as a result of the changes made to the tested (independent) variable?

Answer 1

Answer: C. Gas particles move faster and farther apart at higher temperatures.

Explanation:

The options include:

A. the number of gas particles increases at higher temperatures

B. the number of gas particles decreases at higher temperatures

C. gas particles move faster and farther apart at higher temperatures

D. gas particles move more slowly and get closer together at higher temperatures

The statement that describes how the outcome (dependent) variable changes as a result of the changes made to the tested (independent) variable is that gas particles move faster and farther apart at higher temperatures.

It should be noted that the particles in the gases will collide more frequently with one another because of the shorter space that is between them.

The increase in the temperature will bring about a faster movement of the particles which in turn, brings about a rise in the diffusion rate and also the collision rate.