After a car is driven for some distance, why does the air pressure in the tires increase?
Is it possible that heat increases the air pressure?
The air pressure in car tires typically increases after driving because of the increase in temperature. When driving, the tires heat up as they roll on the road surface. As the tires heat up, the air inside them also expands, causing an increase in pressure.
To understand this phenomenon, you can refer to the Ideal Gas Law, which states that the pressure of a gas is directly proportional to its temperature when the volume and the amount of gas are kept constant. When the tires heat up during driving, the temperature of the air inside them increases. As a result, the air molecules gain energy and move faster, leading to an increase in pressure.
To measure the change in tire pressure, it is important to remember that the recommended tire pressure is typically specified for cold or ambient temperature. Therefore, if you measure the tire pressure immediately after driving, it will likely be higher than the recommended pressure. To get an accurate reading, it is best to wait until the tires cool down before checking the pressure using a tire pressure gauge.