Education Technology


Under Pressure: The Inverse Relationship between Pressure and Volume

Activity Overview

In this activity, students' will use a pressure sensor to investigate the relationship between pressure and volume for an enclosed air sample, and fit an inverse function model to the pressure versus volume data.

Before the Activity

  • Connect the pressure probe to Channel 1 on the CBL 2™ or Vernier LabPro® unit
  • Connect the CBL 2 or LabPro to the calculator using the Unit-to-Unit cable
  • See the attached PDF file for detailed instructions for this activity
  • Print pages 145 - 153 from the attached PDF file for your class
  • During the Activity

    Distribute the pages to your class.

    Follow the Activity procedures:

  • Prepare the pressure sensor and an air sample for data collection
  • Attach the syringe to the pressure sensor
  • Move the piston in the syringe and collect pressure data for different volumes of air in the syringe
  • Examine the pressure versus volume graph
  • Plot pressure versus inverse volume values and determine the modeling equation
  • After the Activity

    Students' will complete the Data Collection and Analysis Sheet and answer questions listed in it.

    Review student results:

  • As a class, discuss questions that appeared to be more challenging
  • Re-teach concepts as necessary