Aviation Medicine (AvMed) Practice Test

The relationship between the pressure and volume of a gas is articulated by Boyle’s Law, which states that, for a given amount of gas at constant temperature, the pressure of the gas is inversely proportional to its volume. This means that as the pressure increases, the volume decreases; conversely, when the pressure decreases, the volume increases. Therefore, if there is a decrease in pressure, you can expect the volume of the gas to increase.

This inverse relationship is foundational in understanding how gases behave under different atmospheric conditions, especially in aviation where changes in altitude can result in significant pressure changes. A decrease in pressure at higher altitudes allows the gas to expand, thus increasing its volume.

The other statements do not accurately reflect this relationship. The first statement suggests that volume increases with rising pressure, which contradicts the fundamental principles of Boyle’s Law. The third statement about volume doubling at 10,000 feet lacks context regarding the specific initial conditions of the gas, making it an inadequate description of the principle. The fourth statement indicates that the volume decreases as pressure decreases, which is directly contradictory to Boyle's Law. Thus, option B accurately captures the correct relationship between pressure and volume of a gas.