When air is heated in a closed container, how does the pressure inside the container change?

• A. It remains the same
• B. It will drop
• C. It rises
• D. It fluctuates

Answer: (C)

When air is heated in a closed container, the pressure inside the container rises due to the principles of gas laws, specifically Charles' Law and the Ideal Gas Law.

As the temperature of the air increases, the kinetic energy of the air molecules also increases. This heightened kinetic energy causes the molecules to move more rapidly and collide with the walls of the container with greater force and frequency. Since the container is closed and does not allow for the volume to change or gas to escape, the only outcome is an increase in pressure.

This phenomenon is fundamental in understanding how gases behave under different thermal conditions and is crucial for applications in aviation, where pressure variations can significantly impact performance and safety.