Measurements inside a sealed container show that the pressure exerted by a gas increases as the thermal energy of the gasincreases.Which of the following best explains this pressure increase?
A)The gas molecules stick to the walls of the container.
B)The gas molecules radiate energy in the form of nuclear particles.
C)The gas molecules begin to bond together into heavier molecules.
D)The gas molecules move faster and strike the container walls more frequently.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The pressure increase is due to the gas molecules moving faster and striking the container walls more frequently as their thermal energy increases. This is a direct consequence of the kinetic theory of gases, which links the temperature of a gas to the average kinetic energy of its molecules.

Measurements Inside a Sealed Container Show That the Pressure Exerted