Admission Test for Dental Hygiene (ATDH) Practice

According to Charles' Law, the volume of a gas is directly proportional to its absolute temperature, provided that the pressure remains constant. This means that as the temperature increases, the kinetic energy of the gas particles also increases, causing them to move more rapidly and occupy a greater volume. When the temperature rises, the increased energy causes the gas molecules to collide with the walls of their container more forcefully and frequently, leading to an expansion in volume. This principle can be observed in everyday scenarios, such as when a balloon is heated and expands due to the increase in temperature. The other options do not align with this fundamental principle: a decrease in volume would suggest a contraction of gas particles, which contradicts the relationship established by Charles' Law; stating the volume remains the same ignores the impact of temperature changes; and describing the volume as unstable is not applicable in this context, as gas behavior under changing temperatures follows predictable patterns based on scientific laws.