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

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the misunderstanding of internal energy changes in a cyclic process, specifically regarding the calculation of ΔU for isothermal, isobaric, and isochoric processes. The user initially calculated ΔU values as ΔU_{AB} = 0 J, ΔU_{BC} = -10122 J, and ΔU_{CA} = 6073 J, which do not sum to zero as required by the first law of thermodynamics. The confusion arose from incorrectly applying the formula for internal energy change in an isobaric process, where the correct equation is ΔU = nC_VΔT, rather than the heat transfer equation Q = nC_PΔT.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of the first law of thermodynamics
  • Familiarity with thermodynamic processes: isothermal, isobaric, and isochoric
  • Knowledge of specific heat capacities (C_P and C_V)
  • Ability to perform calculations using the ideal gas law (PV = nRT)
NEXT STEPS
  • Review the first law of thermodynamics and its implications for cyclic processes
  • Learn the differences between heat transfer and internal energy change in thermodynamic processes
  • Study the derivation and application of specific heat capacities C_P and C_V
  • Practice calculations involving internal energy changes in various thermodynamic cycles
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Students and professionals in thermodynamics, mechanical engineers, and anyone studying energy transfer in cyclic processes will benefit from this discussion.

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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