Particle Motion & Pressure — GCSE Physics Revision
Revise Particle Motion & Pressure for GCSE Physics. Step-by-step explanation, worked examples, common mistakes and exam-style practice aligned to AQA, Edexcel, OCR, WJEC, Eduqas, CCEA, Cambridge International (CIE), SQA, IB, AP.
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Go to Gas Pressure & TemperatureWhat is Particle Motion & Pressure?
The particles in a gas (atoms or molecules) are in constant, random motion. When they collide with the walls of their container, they exert a force on it. The total force exerted over the area of the container walls is the gas pressure. The more frequent and energetic the collisions, the higher the pressure.
Board notes: Covered by all major boards (AQA, Edexcel, OCR). The link between particle motion and pressure is a key part of the particle model.
Step-by-step explanationWorked example
A gas is in a sealed container. What happens to the pressure if the temperature is increased? Solution: Increasing the temperature gives the gas particles more kinetic energy, so they move faster. This means they collide with the container walls more frequently and with more force. This increases the gas pressure.
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Common mistakes
- 1Thinking that pressure is a force. Pressure is force per unit area (P = F/A).
- 2Forgetting that the particles move randomly in all directions. There is no preferred direction of motion.
- 3Believing that particles slow down and stop. In the gas model, particles are assumed to be in continuous motion.
Particle Motion & Pressure exam questions
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Step-by-step method
Step-by-step explanation
4 steps · Worked method for Particle Motion & Pressure
Core concept
The particles in a gas (atoms or molecules) are in constant, random motion. When they collide with the walls of their container, they exert a force on it. The total force exerted over the area of the …
Frequently asked questions
How does the motion of gas particles create pressure?
Gas particles are in constant random motion. They collide with the walls of the container, and each collision exerts a small force. The pressure is the total force of all these collisions divided by the area of the container walls.
What is Brownian motion?
Brownian motion is the random movement of particles suspended in a fluid (a liquid or a gas) resulting from their collision with the fast-moving atoms or molecules in the fluid. It provides evidence for the existence of atoms and molecules.