You are provided with a syringe, a petri-dish firmly attached to the base of the movable piston (plunger) of the syringe, a Set of weights, and other necessary apparatus.

1. Pull the piston of the syringe upward until it can no longer move. Read and record this position of the piston on the graduated mark on the syringe as V\(_{o}\).
2. Clamp the syringe and ensure that it is vertical.
3. Place a mass M= 500g gently at the center of the petri-dish.
4. Read and record the new position of the piston as V.
5. Evaluate V\(^{1}\).
6. Repeat the procedure for four other values of M= 1000g, 1500g, 2000g, and 2500g.
7. Tabulate your readings.
8. Plot a graph with V\(^{-1}\) on the vertical axis and M on the horizontal axis, starting both axes from the origin (0,0).
9. Determine the slope, s, of the graph.
10. Evaluate k = s\(^{-1}\).
11. State two precautions taken to ensure accurate results.

(b)i. When a weight is placed on the petri-dish, which quantities of the gas in the syringe (\(\Omega\)) increases; (\(\beta\)) decrease?

ii. What is responsible for the pressure exerted by a gas in a closed vessel?