Explain what would happen to the pressure inside a cylinder if you decreased its volume, according to Boyle's law.

Video transcript

Hey, everyone. Let's take a look at this question together following Boyle's law, which of the following happens during the process of inhalation. Is it answer choice? A, the lung volume contracts and the pressure increases. Answer choice B the lung volume expands and the pressure decreases. Answer choice C the lung volume contracts and the pressure decreases or answer choice D the lung volume expands and the pressure increases. Let's work this problem out together to try to figure out which of the following answer choices best explains what happens during the process of inhalation. So in order to solve this question, we have to recall what we have learned about Boyle's law as well as what happens during the process of inhalation. And we can recall that Boyle's law states that at a constant temperature, the pressure of a gas is inversely proportional to its volume. And we know that during inhalation, the diaphragm and the intercostal muscles contract leading to an increase in the volume of the thoracic cavity and the lungs. So, based on Boyle's law, which says that the pressure of a gas is inversely proportional to its volume during inhalation when the diaphragm and intercostal muscles contract increasing the volume of the thoracic cavity and the lungs, there is a decrease in pressure in the lungs. Since we have that increase in volume, which is inversely proportional to the pressure. So an increase in volume results in a decrease in pressure. Making answer choice. B the correct answer since as the lung volume expands, the pressure in the lungs decreases and all other answer choices are incorrect. I hope you found this video to be helpful. Thank you and goodbye.