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What happens in the particles of a gas when the gas is compressed

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Final answer:

Compressing a gas decreases its volume by pushing the particles closer together, increasing its density and pressure. At very high compressions, the behavior changes and gases become less compressible.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a gas is compressed, the particles that make up the gas are forced closer together, which reduces the volume that the gas occupies. This is because gases are composed of particles that are in constant, rapid motion and are separated by large distances. Upon compression, these particles are pushed into a smaller space, decreasing the amount of empty space and increasing the density of the gas as well as the pressure within the container. If the compressive force is removed, the gas particles will move apart again, assuming the original volume if allowed. However, it's important to note that very high compression can affect the behavior of the gas, making it less compressible due to the volume of the gas molecules themselves becoming significant relative to the total volume.

User Richante
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what happens is the atoms or molecules of a gas will increase in thermal energy when the gas is compressed. The kinetic energy of those atoms or molecules will increase as they are forced closer together in compression, and the temperature of the gas will increase.

User Novak
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