A hydraulic accumulator contains a pressurized nitrogen gas cushion in the chamber above a volume of hydraulic oil.
Explain, in terms of particles, how the nitrogen gas produces a pressure on the inside walls of the accumulator.
As the accumulator is used to power a hydraulic actuator, oil is discharged from the bottom of the vessel. An engineer concludes:
"The pressure of the nitrogen gas cushion inside the accumulator decreases as the hydraulic oil is discharged."
Evaluate this engineer's conclusion.
What happens to the average speed of the nitrogen gas molecules if the accumulator is cooled by placing it in an ice bath?