What happens to the volume of a gas when it is cooled at constant pressure?

When a gas is cooled at constant pressure, it experiences a decrease in volume. This phenomenon is described by Charles's Law, which states that the volume of a gas is directly proportional to its temperature when the pressure is held constant. According to this law, if the temperature of the gas decreases, the volume must also decrease to maintain the constant pressure.

As the gas cools, the kinetic energy of the gas molecules decreases, leading them to move more slowly and occupy less space. This reduction in energy results in a decrease in the average distance between molecules, causing the volume of the gas to shrink. Therefore, cooling a gas while keeping the pressure constant will lead to a lower volume as part of this direct relationship between temperature and volume under constant pressure conditions.