Q. A bubble of air is underwater at temperature 15°C and the pressure 1.5 bar. If the bubble rises to the surface where the temperature is 25°C and the pressure is 1.0 bar what will happen to the volume of the bubble?
A) Volume will become smaller by a factor of 0.70
B) Volume will become greater by a factor of 2.5
C) Volume will become greater by a factor of 1.6
D) Volume will become greater by a factor of 1.1
Explanation
[Solution from source] From P₁V₁/T₁ = P₂V₂/T₂: V₂/V₁ = (P₁/P₂)(T₂/T₁) = (1.5/1.0)(298/288) = 1.55 ≈ 1.6. Using Celsius temperatures or ignoring the temperature change gives the other factors, and the volume cannot get smaller since both changes make it expand. Answer (3).
Reviewed by Dr. Abubacker
Physics Educator & NEET/JEE Specialist
Ph.D. in Physics with 19+ years of teaching experience.