Question

When a sample of gas is cooled in a sealed, rigid container, the pressure the gas exerts on the walls of the container will decrease because the gas particles hit the walls of the container

(1) less often and with less force
(2) less often and with more force
(3) more often and with less force
(4) more often and with more force

Answer 1

The answer is Less Often and With Less Force. This is based on the Gas Law which states that temperature is directly proportional to pressure. As the gas cools down in a controlled environment such as a sealed rigid container, the kinetic energy of the gas molecules goes down resulting in less aggressive molecular behavior. This makes the molecules hit the container wall less often and with less impact.