How Does Temperature Affect the Volume of a Propane Tank?

What is the relationship between temperature and volume in a propane tank?

Given that a propane tank now contains 250 L of propane and was cooled from 35.0 C to 5.0 C, what was the original volume of the propane?

Effects of Temperature on Propane Tank Volume

The question explores the impact of temperature on the volume of gas inside a propane tank, following Charles's law.

When dealing with gases under constant pressure, such as propane in a tank, Charles's law explains the relationship between volume and temperature. The law states that the volume of a given mass of gas is directly proportional to its absolute temperature, as long as the pressure remains constant.

To apply Charles's law to the situation provided, we need to convert the temperatures from Celsius to Kelvin. By doing so, we can calculate the original volume of propane in the tank before it was cooled.

The formula for Charles's law in this scenario is V1/T1 = V2/T2, where V represents volume and T represents temperature in Kelvin. Given that the final volume after cooling is 250 L, and the temperatures are 35.0 C and 5.0 C, we can determine that the original volume was approximately 277 Litres.

Therefore, the original volume of the propane tank, before it was cooled from 35.0 C to 5.0 C, was around 277 Litres. This showcases how temperature changes can impact the volume of gas inside a container, following the principles of Charles's law.