Keep the particles
The piston changes space, while eighteen particles remain inside.
Gas Squeeze Room
Move a sealed piston to compare gas volume, particle spacing and pressure.
Grades 3–5 · Chemistry
Your goal
Move the piston until pressure is 2.0 pressure units. Keep the same 18 particles and temperature.
Reduced motion is on. The controls still update the scene.
6 volume units and 1.0 pressure units. Their product stays 6. The same 18 particles have the most space; temperature stays fixed.
units
This sealed ideal gas model compares equilibrium states at constant temperature and particle number. Pressure rises as wall collisions become more frequent in a smaller volume. Particle positions show spacing only; sizes and pressure units are illustrative. Real rapid compression can also raise temperature.
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Learn with Gas Squeeze Room
Push a piston inward or pull it outward to change the space available to eighteen gas particles. Gas Squeeze Room introduces elementary students to the connection between gas volume and pressure through a sealed cylinder and a visible gauge. The particle count stays fixed as the cylinder becomes smaller, helping learners explain why pressure rises. Guided goals ask students to reach different pressures without adding gas. A constant volume times pressure product supports predictions, while the notes explain that rapid compression in real life can also change temperature.
What to look for
Try half the space
Halving the volume doubles the model pressure.
Check the product
Multiply volume by pressure to find the same value in every state.
For teachers and curious learners
Discover the inverse pressure and volume relationship at fixed temperature. Ask students to predict what will happen, change one setting, and explain what they observe. Learn gives a starting point. Practice and Challenge offer new goals with the same scene.
A sealed ideal gas is compared at constant temperature and particle number. Pressure times volume is six in illustrative units. Particle positions show spacing rather than simulated collisions.