Size of scuba diving tank (Boyle's Law)

Question

This question is confusing me as I don't know what I'm looking for

"A popular size of scuba-diving tank holds the amount of compressed air that would occupy 71.2 ft^3 at a normal surface pressure of 1 atm. The air in the tank is at a pressure of about 2250 lb/in^2, so the tank itself can have a volume much less than 71.2 ft^3. How large does the tank need to be to hold 71.2 ft^3? (Hint: Use Boyle’s Law: PV = k. Remember that 1 atm = 14.7 lb/in^2.)"

Answer 1

Hi Shandon,

 

         You were given that PV=k so if we have two conditions i.e. p1=14.7 psi, v1=71.2ft³ and p2=2250 psi and v2=?

Using p1v1=p2v2 and solving for v2 gives v2=(p1/p2)v1. All you have to do is plug in the numerical values.

 

Hope this helps Let me know if you have any questions.

 

Jim