Question

Refrigerators are usually kept at about 5∘C, while room temperature is about 20∘C. If you were to take an "empty" sealed 2-liter soda bottle at room temperature and place it in the fridge, would you expect it to contract to one-fourth its original volume?

Answer 1

The volume will not contract to one fourth of the original.

Step-by-step explanation:

Applying Charles's Law as:

`\frac {V_1}{T_1}=\frac {V_2}{T_2}`

Given ,

V₁ = ?

V₂ = 2 L

T₁ = 5 °C

T₂ = 20 °C

The conversion of T( °C) to T(K) is shown below:

T(K) = T( °C) + 273.15

So,

T₁ = (5 + 273.15) K = 278.15 K

T₂ = (20 + 273.15) K = 293.15 K

Using Charles law as:

`V_1=\frac {V_2}{T_2} * {T_1}`

`V_1=\frac {2\ L}{293.15 K} * {278.15 K}`

`V_1=1.8977 L`

Thus, the volume will not contract to one fourth of the original. (1/4 of 2 L is 0.5 L).