Tennessee Wastewater Operator Practice Exam

According to the combined gas law, when gas is compressed by a blower, what happens to its temperature?

1. It decreases

2. It remains the same

3. It increases

4. It fluctuates

The correct answer is: It increases

The combined gas law states that for a given amount of gas, the product of its pressure and volume remains proportional to its temperature, assuming the amount of gas is constant. According to this law, when gas is compressed, like when a blower increases the pressure on the gas, the volume of the gas decreases. Since pressure and temperature are directly related when the volume is held constant, an increase in pressure due to compression results in an increase in temperature. This phenomenon is due to the fact that compressing gas forces the molecules closer together, which increases the frequency of collisions among them. The kinetic energy of these molecules rises, resulting in an increase in temperature. Thus, when gas is compressed by a blower, its temperature increases, making this a straightforward application of the combined gas law in practical scenarios.