Definition

Noun: - A physical law in thermodynamics: Mariotte's law states that for a fixed amount of an ideal gas kept at a constant temperature, the pressure and volume are inversely proportional. This means if the volume decreases, the pressure increases, and vice versa. It is also commonly known as Boyle's law.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The experiment was designed to demonstrate Mariotte's law by compressing air in a sealed syringe.
  • According to Mariotte's law, doubling the pressure on a gas at constant temperature will halve its volume.

Advanced Usage

• "To obey/follow Mariotte's law": Used to describe a gas behaving ideally under isothermal (constant temperature) conditions.
  • For an ideal gas, the product of pressure and volume is constant, meaning it perfectly obeys Mariotte's law.
• "A demonstration/illustration of Mariotte's law": Refers to a practical experiment showing the principle.
  • The classic J-tube experiment is a clear illustration of Mariotte's law.

Variants and Related Words

• Boyle's law (n): The more common name for the same principle, named after the Anglo-Irish scientist Robert Boyle. It is synonymous with Mariotte's law.
  • In many English textbooks, Mariotte's law is referred to as Boyle's law.
• Boyle-Mariotte law (n): A compound name acknowledging both discoverers.
  • Some sources use the term Boyle-Mariotte law to credit both scientists.

Synonyms

• Boyle's law: The direct synonym.
• Pressure-volume law: A descriptive synonym highlighting the relationship between the variables.

Related Phrases and Concepts

• Ideal gas law: The more general law (PV = nRT) that describes the state of an ideal gas, of which Mariotte's/Boyle's law is a special case (constant temperature and mass).
• Isothermal process: A thermodynamic process that occurs at a constant temperature, which is the condition required for Mariotte's law to apply.

Noun

1. the pressure of an ideal gas at constant temperature varies inversely with the volume