What are examples of gas behaviour in everyday life?

Examples of gas behaviour in everyday life include inflating balloons, carbonation in fizzy drinks, and air pressure changes in tyres.

Inflating a balloon is a common example of gas behaviour. When you blow air into a balloon, the balloon expands. This is because the gas particles in your breath move quickly and spread out, filling the balloon. This demonstrates the principle that gas will always fill its container, regardless of the shape or size. The more air you blow into the balloon, the more the gas particles push against the inside of the balloon, causing it to expand. This is an example of gas pressure.

Carbonation in fizzy drinks is another example. Carbon dioxide gas is dissolved under pressure in the liquid. When the bottle or can is opened, the pressure is released, and the gas particles spread out, escaping from the liquid in the form of bubbles. This is an example of how gases behave under different pressures.

Air pressure changes in tyres is another everyday example of gas behaviour. When a tyre is inflated, the air inside the tyre is under pressure. If the tyre heats up, for example from driving or from the weather, the gas particles inside the tyre move faster and the pressure increases. This can cause the tyre to expand slightly. Conversely, if the tyre cools down, the gas particles slow down and the pressure decreases, which can cause the tyre to contract. This demonstrates how temperature affects gas pressure and volume, in line with the gas laws.

These examples all demonstrate the fundamental principles of gas behaviour: that gases will fill their container, that gas pressure is caused by the movement of gas particles, and that changes in temperature and pressure can affect the volume of a gas.