High School

If a gas has a gauge pressure of 156 kPa, its absolute pressure is approximately:

A) 100 kPa
B) 256 kPa
C) 300 kPa
D) 56 kPa

Answer :

To find the absolute pressure of a gas when given its gauge pressure, you need to understand the relationship between gauge pressure and absolute pressure.

1. Gauge Pressure: This is the pressure of the gas relative to atmospheric pressure. In this case, the gauge pressure is given as 156 kPa.

2. Atmospheric Pressure: This is the average pressure exerted by the Earth's atmosphere at sea level. It's generally about 101 kPa.

3. Absolute Pressure: This is the total pressure exerted by the gas, and it includes both the gauge pressure and the atmospheric pressure.

The formula to find the absolute pressure is:
[tex]\[ \text{Absolute Pressure} = \text{Gauge Pressure} + \text{Atmospheric Pressure} \][/tex]

Using this formula, plug in the values:

- Gauge Pressure = 156 kPa
- Atmospheric Pressure = 101 kPa

[tex]\[ \text{Absolute Pressure} = 156 \, \text{kPa} + 101 \, \text{kPa} = 257 \, \text{kPa} \][/tex]

Now, look at the options provided:

A) 100 kPa
B) 256 kPa
C) 300 kPa
D) 56 kPa

The option that is closest to the calculated absolute pressure of 257 kPa is B) 256 kPa. So, the correct answer is B) 256 kPa.