Final Answer:
The new volume of the ideal gas would remain 9 m². (b)
Step-by-step explanation:
When additional blocks are placed on the lid of a container holding an ideal gas at constant temperature, the volume of the gas doesn’t change. This is based on the ideal gas law, which states that at constant temperature, pressure, and quantity of gas, the volume remains constant.
Adding blocks on top of the container might change the pressure inside momentarily, but as the temperature remains constant, the volume of the gas won’t be affected. Therefore, the volume remains at its initial value of 9 m².(b)
The scenario described pertains to a situation where the temperature of the gas is held constant. According to the ideal gas law, PV = nRT, where P is pressure, V is volume, n is the number of moles of gas, R is the ideal gas constant, and T is temperature in Kelvin. However, as the question specifies a constant temperature, the equation simplifies to PV = constant.
When additional blocks are placed on top of the lid without altering the temperature, the pressure inside the container may momentarily increase due to the added weight, but this doesn’t affect the volume of the gas. Thus, the new volume remains the same as the initial volume, which is 9 m².
This principle is fundamental in understanding the behavior of ideal gases under different conditions. While changes in pressure or temperature can alter the volume of a gas, keeping the temperature constant means the volume remains unchanged, as dictated by the ideal gas law's constant temperature condition.