What is the equation for Charles' 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!

Charles' law states that the volume of a gas is directly proportional to its temperature when pressure is held constant. This relationship can be represented mathematically as V/T = k, where V is the volume, T is the temperature (in Kelvin), and k is a constant.

In practical terms, this means that if you increase the temperature of a gas, its volume will increase, provided the pressure does not change. This concept is crucial in understanding gas behavior under varying thermal conditions.

For instance, if you take a balloon and heat it, the gas inside expands, causing the balloon to inflate. This expansion occurs as long as the pressure remains constant, which is a key aspect of Charles' law. The other equations provided correspond to different gas laws, such as Boyle’s law (which relates pressure and volume at constant temperature) and the ideal gas law, but they do not accurately capture the temperature-volume relationship defined by Charles' law.

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