(a) Why does a gas exert pressure?
(b) Why does a gas fill a vessel completely?
(c) Why are gases so easily compressible whereas it is almost impossible to compress a solid or a liquid?
(a) Why does a gas exert pressure?
(b) Why does a gas fill a vessel completely?
(c) Why are gases so easily compressible whereas it is almost impossible to compress a solid or a liquid?
(a) Because of high energy and negligible forces of attraction, the particles of a gas move with high speed in all directions. Thus, the pressure exerted by a gas is due to the constant collisions of the fast-moving gas particles against the walls of the container.
(b) The particles of a gas have high kinetic energy and negligible forces of attraction amongst them. Due to this, the particles of a gas are constantly moving with high speeds in all the directions and the gas completely fills the vessel in which it is kept.
(c) Gases can be compressed easily because its particles are far apart and there are large spaces between them (which can be reduced by compression).
(a) Because of high energy and negligible forces of attraction, the particles of a gas move with high speed in all directions. Thus, the pressure exerted by a gas is due to the constant collisions of the fast-moving gas particles against the walls of the container.
(b) The particles of a gas have high kinetic energy and negligible forces of attraction amongst them. Due to this, the particles of a gas are constantly moving with high speeds in all the directions and the gas completely fills the vessel in which it is kept.
(c) Gases can be compressed easily because its particles are far apart and there are large spaces between them (which can be reduced by compression).
