Internal energy won't add up to 0 in cyclic process

AI Thread Summary
In a cyclic process, the change in internal energy (ΔU) should equal zero, but the user struggled to reconcile their calculations, which resulted in a non-zero sum. They provided specific values for ΔU across different segments of the cycle, including isothermal, isobaric, and isochoric processes. The confusion stemmed from incorrectly applying the formula for ΔU in the isobaric process, mistaking it for the heat transfer equation. Upon realizing the error, they confirmed that the correct formula for ΔU in an isobaric process is indeed nC_VΔT. This clarification resolved the discrepancy, aligning with the principle that ΔU must equal zero in a cyclic process.
giraffe714
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Homework Statement
A 1.00-mol sample of an ideal monatomic gas is taken through the cycle shown in Figure P22.54. The process A -> B is a reversible isothermal expansion.
(e) Calculate the changes in internal energy for each process.
Relevant Equations
ΔU_isothermal = 0, ΔU_isobaric = nC_P*ΔT, ΔU_isochoric = nC_V*ΔT, ΔU = Q + W (maybe?), PV = nRT
My problem isn't exactly with calculating the actual changes in internal energy, I'll put those values below. My problem is that I can't get the values to add up to 0, and I don't understand why since for cyclic processes, by definition, ΔU must equal 0.

$$ΔU_{AB} = ΔU_{isothermal} = 0$$
$$ΔU_{BC} = ΔU_{isobaric} = nC_PΔT_{BC} = n\frac{R}{1 - 1/γ}(T_C - T_B) = 1\frac{8.314}{1 - 1/(5/3)}(122 - 609) = -10122 \text{ J}$$
$$ΔU_{CA} = ΔU_{isochoric} = nC_VΔT_{CA} = n\frac{R}{γ - 1}(T_A - T_C) = 1\frac{8.314}{5/3 - 1}(609 - 122) = 6073\text{ J}$$

Which doesn't add up to 0 like it should for a cyclic process. What am I missing here? I feel like something with the "reversible" isothermal process but I'm not sure? And in case you're wondering where I got the values 122 and 609 from for the temperatures, I calculated them using PV = nRT:

##T_A = \frac{P_A*V_A}{nR} = \frac{5*101325*10*0.001}{1*8.314} = 609\text{ K}## (here I'm converting atm to Pa and L to m^3)
Now since A -> B is isothermal ##T_B = T_A = 609\text{ K}##
##T_C = \frac{1*101325*10*0.001}{1*8.314} = 122\text{ K}##
 

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Okay, so I figured it out, I was using the wrong equation for ΔU_isobaric, it's still ##nC_VΔT##, I got that formula confused with the one for heat transfer in an isobaric process, ##Q = nC_PΔT##.
 
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