What happens to the pressure of a gas if its volume is decreased while temperature remains constant?

When the volume of a gas is decreased while maintaining a constant temperature, the pressure of the gas increases. This behavior is described by Boyle's Law, which states that the pressure of a gas is inversely proportional to its volume when the temperature is held constant.

Mathematically, Boyle's Law is expressed as P1V1 = P2V2, where P represents the pressure and V represents the volume at different states (1 and 2). If we decrease the volume (V2 < V1), to maintain the equality, P2 must increase, leading to a higher pressure.

This relationship occurs because as the gas molecules are confined to a smaller volume, they collide with the walls of the container more frequently and with greater force, which results in an increase in pressure. Thus, decreasing the volume while keeping the temperature constant leads to an increase in pressure, confirming the accuracy of the correct answer.