# A sealed metal container holds a fixed quantity of gas. The container is placed in a furnace and its temperature rises. Explain how the behaviour of the gas particles inside the container accounts for the increase in pressure on the container walls.

> WJEC GCSE Physics (Wales) — 2.6 Particle physics and using physics to investigate the universe · Explain · 4 marks

## Mark scheme (4 marks)

1. Higher temperature means the gas particles have greater kinetic energy / move faster
2. The faster-moving particles collide with the container walls more frequently
3. Each collision exerts a greater force on the walls because the particles are moving faster / have more momentum
4. Pressure is the perpendicular force per unit area on the container walls, so greater force from more frequent/harder collisions means higher pressure

## Key terms

- [pressure](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/pressure)
- [temperature](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/temperature)
- [gas particles](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/gas-particles)

## Related

- [Revision notes for WJEC GCSE Physics (Wales)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/learn)
- [How to answer "Explain" questions](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/tools/command-word-cheatsheet)
- [Practice this with AI marking (free)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/start)

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Source: [GradeNine](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/a-sealed-metal-container-holds-a-985f7f31) · Published by Druglandscape Ltd.