PV Diagram help - Monatomic ideal gas change of state

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating the work done on a monatomic ideal gas transitioning from state A to state D via a PV diagram, specifically through a constant volume path A-B and a constant pressure path B-C-D. The total work done on the gas was determined to be 1215.6 J. The challenge arose in calculating the change in internal energy (dU) without knowing the number of moles (n) or the temperature, leading to the clarification that dU can be expressed as ΔU = Δ(3/2nRT) and can be reformulated using the ideal gas law.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of the ideal gas law
  • Knowledge of thermodynamic equations, specifically dU = Q + W
  • Familiarity with PV diagrams and work calculations
  • Concept of internal energy for monatomic ideal gases
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the ideal gas law and its applications in thermodynamics
  • Learn about calculating work done in thermodynamic processes
  • Explore the relationship between internal energy, temperature, and number of moles
  • Investigate the derivation and application of dU = 3/2nRT in different scenarios
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Students studying thermodynamics, physics enthusiasts, and anyone looking to deepen their understanding of gas laws and energy transformations in ideal gases.

prj
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Homework Statement


Suppose a monatomic ideal gas is changed from state A to state D by one of the processes shown on the PV diagram (attached). a) Find the total work done on the gas if it follows the constant volume path A-B followed by the constant pressure path B-C-D. b)Calculate the total change in internal energy of the gas during the entire process and the total heat flow into the gas.

Homework Equations



W= -P(Vf-Vi)
dU = Q + W
dU = 3/2nRT

The Attempt at a Solution


I found the answer to part A to be 1215.6 J of work were done on the gas. My problem comes in part b. How can I determine the change in internal energy without knowing the number of moles (n) of the gas, or the temperature?
 

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Do you really need n to calculate the change in internal energy? Remember that U depends only on temperature, so what is the temperaure difference?
 
prj said:
dU = 3/2nRT

How can I determine the change in internal energy without knowing the number of moles (n) of the gas, or the temperature?

Shouldn't that be dU = 3/2nRdT? Or ΔU = Δ(3/2nRT)? Maybe you can use the ideal gas law to write this in terms of P and V rather than nRT.
 
I think I was over-complicating the problem, but I've solved it now.

Thank you for the help!
 

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