How Temperature and Pressure Are Linked (Absolute Temperature)
Part of Gas Pressure & Temperature — GCSE Physics
This how it works covers How Temperature and Pressure Are Linked (Absolute Temperature) within Gas Pressure & Temperature for GCSE Physics. Revise Gas Pressure & Temperature in Particle Model for GCSE Physics with 13 exam-style questions and 30 flashcards. This is a high-frequency topic, so it is worth revising until the explanation feels precise and repeatable. It is section 5 of 12 in this topic. Use this how it works to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
Topic position
Section 5 of 12
Practice
13 questions
Recall
30 flashcards
⚙️ How Temperature and Pressure Are Linked (Absolute Temperature)
For a fixed mass of gas at constant volume, pressure is proportional to absolute temperature:
p ∝ T (constant volume)
This means if you double the absolute temperature (in Kelvin), you double the pressure. But temperature must be in Kelvin, not Celsius:
- Absolute zero (0 K = −273°C): The temperature at which particles have minimum kinetic energy and gas pressure would theoretically be zero.
- Conversion: T (K) = T (°C) + 273
- So 100°C = 373 K, and 0°C = 273 K
Why Kelvin? At −273°C, particles theoretically stop moving (minimum possible kinetic energy). This is the lowest possible temperature — absolute zero. The Kelvin scale starts here, which is why pressure is directly proportional to Kelvin temperature.