Solve for the following problem. Write the given and solution.

Question

4. A scuba tank is filled with air at 16.7 atm and 24o C, but someone leaves it out in the sun to warm to 65o C. What is the new pressure in the tank?

Answer 1

Since the scuba tank is of a fixed volume, as the temperature increases, the pressure inside the tank will increase. We can use Gay-Lussac's law:

P1 / T1 = P2 / T2

P1 = initial pressure = 16.7 atm

T1 = initial temperature in Kelvin = 24ºC + 273 = 297K

P2 = final pressure = ?

T2 = final temperature in Kelvin = 65ºC + 273 = 338K

Solving for P2 we have ...

P2 = P1T2 / T1

P2 = (16.7 atm)(338K) / 297K

P2 = 19.0 atm