EdBlog

Gas Pressure

Why does a bicycle tyre feel harder the more you pump it? Why do your ears pop on an aeroplane? Why does an aerosol can warn "do not store near heat"? All of these come down to one idea in physics: gas pressure. This guide explains exactly what gas pressure is, what causes it at a particle level, how volume and temperature change it, and how it shows up in everyday life. By the end of this post, you'll be able to: define pressure and state the equation that links it to force and area, explain what causes gas pressure using the particle model of matter, describe how decreasing volume increases gas pressure (and vice versa), describe how increasing temperature increases gas pressure (and vice versa), explain what atmospheric pressure is and why it changes with altitude, and apply gas pressure ideas to real-world examples (tyres, aerosols, altitude, diving).