A domestic liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinder contains liquid propane at the bottom, with propane gas filling the headspace above.
Explain, in terms of the motion of particles, how the propane gas exerts a pressure on the inner walls of the cylinder.
As the cylinder is used to supply a patio heater, liquid propane is drawn from the bottom. Assume that the mass of gas in the headspace remains constant and the temperature is held constant by the surroundings.
A student states:
"The pressure of the gas in the headspace will decrease as the liquid propane is consumed."
Evaluate the student's statement.
What happens to the root-mean-square (r.m.s.) speed of the gas molecules if the cylinder is moved to a warmer environment?
