For an ideal diatomic gas, the molar specific heat at constant volume is Cv=25R. The change in internal energy is a state function and depends only on the initial and final temperatures. It can be expressed as:
ΔU=nCvΔT=n(25R)(TB−TA)=25(nRTB−nRTA)
Using the ideal gas equation PV=nRT, this becomes:
ΔU=25(PBVB−PAVA)
From the standard P-V indicator diagram given in this PYQ, the coordinates for the initial state A and final state B are A≡(4 m3,5 kPa) and B≡(6 m3,2 kPa).
Therefore, PAVA=5 kPa×4 m3=20 kJ and PBVB=2 kPa×6 m3=12 kJ.
Substituting these values into the internal energy equation:
ΔU=25(12 kJ−20 kJ)=25(−8 kJ)=−20 kJ.