Kaplan Nursing Entrance Practice Exam

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Which physical principle explains why a balloon expands when heated?

Archimedes' principle
Boyle's law
Charles' law
Hooke's law

The correct answer is: Charles' law

The correct answer is based on Charles' law, which states that the volume of a gas is directly proportional to its temperature when pressure is held constant. When a balloon is heated, the gas particles inside gain kinetic energy, causing them to move more vigorously. As a result, the gas expands, thereby increasing the volume of the balloon. This principle applies directly to the situation with the balloon; as the temperature of the gas increases, it forces the balloon to expand to accommodate the increased volume of gas. Charles' law is fundamental in understanding how temperature affects gas behavior in enclosed spaces like balloons. In contrast, Archimedes' principle relates to buoyancy and does not explain the expansion of gases. Boyle's law addresses the relationship between pressure and volume of a gas at constant temperature, while Hooke's law pertains to the behavior of elastic materials under stress, none of which directly explain the expansion of a balloon with heat.