Question 49 – Gas pressure and temperature - Questions

Figure 4 shows a small steel canister of pressurized nitrogen gas used to inflate an emergency avalanche airbag.

Figure 4: A small, sealed metal canister next to a large, deflated fabric safety airbag that eventually inflates to a volume of 1200 cm³.

The initial pressure, $P_1$ , inside the canister is 15.0 MPa.

The internal volume, $V_1$ , of the canister is 20.0 cm³.

When the canister is triggered, all of the nitrogen gas expands to fill the airbag.

The final volume of the gas, $V_2$ , in the inflated airbag is 1200 cm³.

Calculate the final pressure, $P_2$ , of the nitrogen gas inside the inflated airbag.

Use the equation:

P_1 V_1 = P_2 V_2

Gas pressure and temperature