How to Calculate Work Done from a PV Diagram?

[KJ22]

Homework Statement

Look at the PV diagram of a system above. The units for P and V are atmospheric pressure atm and liter L. Process A to B and B to C are straight lines on it.
How much is the work done by the system from A to C in J?

https://tycho-s.physics.wisc.edu/cgi/courses/shell/common/showme.pl?courses/phys103/fall08/homework/12/pv/pv.gif

HELP: In general, the work done in an expansion from some initial state to some final state is the area under the curve on a PV diagram. So determine the area under the ABC-curve.

HELP: Each square on the diagram has an area of: 1.5 atm * 1 L = 1.5 atm L = 152 J. Estimate the numbers of squares below the ABC-curve and multiply that number by 152 J. Good luck

The Attempt at a Solution

Wab= pressure x change in volume= 303975 Pa(.004meters cubed)= 1215.9
Wbc= pressure x change in volume= 607950 Pa(.006 meters cubed)= 3647.7

W= Wab +Wbc

but this is not correct. Can anyone help me?

 

[Pacopag]

I did what you said, i.e. counted the squares under the curve and multiplied that number by 152, but I do not get the same answer as you. Try dividing the area into two rectangles and two triangles and calculate those four areas separately. Use the formula for the area of a triangle rather than guessing how many squares make up the triangle. Hope that helps.

 

[KJ22]

thanks! that worked.

I got the Area of the triangles to be 4 and 3 and the area of the rectangles to be 8 and 18. multiplied by 152 and got an answer of 5020 J.

thanks for your help!