What happens to the pressure of a gas if its volume is doubled, according to Boyle's Law?

Study for the OSAT Physical Science Test. Practice with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question has hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

According to Boyle's Law, the relationship between the pressure and volume of a fixed amount of gas at constant temperature is inversely proportional. This means that when the volume of the gas increases, the pressure decreases, and vice versa. Specifically, if the volume of the gas is doubled, the pressure is halved.

To illustrate, if you have a gas occupying a certain volume at a certain pressure and you increase that volume to twice its original size while keeping the temperature constant, the molecules of the gas have more space to move around. This increased space results in fewer collisions against the walls of the container in a given time period, leading to a decrease in pressure. Therefore, if the volume is doubled, the pressure becomes half of its original value, confirming that the correct answer is that the pressure is halved.

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