What happens to pressure when the volume of a gas is decreased?

• A. The pressure increases
• B. The pressure decreases
• C. The pressure remains unchanged
• D. It causes the gas to condense

Answer: (A)

When the volume of a gas is decreased, the pressure of that gas increases due to the principles outlined in Boyle's Law. Boyle's Law states that at a constant temperature, the pressure of a gas is inversely proportional to its volume. This means that if the volume decreases while the temperature remains constant, the molecules of the gas come closer together and collide more frequently with the walls of the container. As a result, the force exerted by these molecules increases, which leads to a rise in pressure. This relationship is essential in understanding gas behavior in various contexts, such as in speech production where changes in air pressure relate to vocal fold vibration and sound generation.