The internal energy change when a system goes from state A to B is 40 kJmole−1. If the system goes from A to B by a reversible path and returns to state A by an irreversible path, what would be the net change in internal energy?
Internal energy =△U=nCv△T (It is a state function i.e independent of it’s path)
Let the state A be (P1, V1, T1) and B be (P2, V2, T2)
When the system goes from A to B (reversibly) and B to A (irreversibly). So, final state comes to be A(P1, V1, T1).
△UA→B→A=nCv△T=nCv(T2−T1)=0