Certified Transport Registered Nurse Certification Practice Exam

In Boyle's Law, as volume decreases, what happens to pressure?

1. It also decreases

2. It increases

3. It remains constant

4. It fluctuates

The correct answer is: It increases

In Boyle's Law, the relationship between the pressure and volume of a confined gas is inversely proportional when temperature remains constant. Therefore, as the volume of the gas decreases, the gas molecules are confined to a smaller space, leading to more frequent collisions with the walls of the container. This increased frequency of collisions results in an increase in pressure. The foundational principle of Boyle's Law can be visually represented by imagining a syringe filled with air; when the plunger is pulled back, the volume inside the syringe increases and the pressure decreases, whereas pushing the plunger in reduces the volume and correspondingly increases the pressure. This direct correlation between a decrease in volume and an increase in pressure is a fundamental concept in gas behavior and is critical for understanding various concepts in physics and chemistry as well as its applications in medical settings, especially for nurses and transport professionals handling respiratory conditions and ventilator management.