[Physics] Is heat added during an isothermal process zero

thermodynamics

I am confused about the first law of thermodynamics when applied to an isothermal process for an ideal gas. In my textbook it says that for any process involving an ideal gas:
$dU=dQ=nC_V∆T$
Then doesn’t this imply that since temperature doesn’t change, there is not heat added either. However, if $∆U = 0$, then $Q = W$ for an ideal gas and consequently $Q$ cannot equal zero. I am not sure whether I have gotten something conceptually wrong as intuitively I just feel that since the temperature doesn’t change during an isothermal process heat is not added to the system.

Best Answer

The ideal gas law says that for a fixed number of molecules in a gas $$\frac{PV}{T}=\text{constant}.$$ If the process is isothermal, as you specify, then $T$ is constant and we can write $${PV}=\text{constant}.$$ This means that in an isothermal process, both pressure and volume must change in order for any change in state to occur.

Now, you mention the equation $$dU=dQ=nC_V∆T.$$ The subscript on the specific heat value, $C_V$, means that this applies for constant volume. So you have a situation in which this calculation does not apply. Also, notice that if $V$ is constant, then $$\frac{P}{T}=\text{constant}$$ and no work is done, because work requires a change in volume. This is incompatible with an isothermal process.

What you should realize is that this is not the only method of calculating heat addition or removal. Also, the first law says $$\text{d}U=Q_{in}+\text{d}W$$ In this particular form of the statement, $Q_{in}$ positive if heat flows into a system and negative if heat is removed from the system, and $\text{d}W$ is positive if work is done on the system and negative if work is done by the system.

In an isothermal process, with both $P$ and $V$ changing, but $T$ being constant, work is being done on (or by) the system so the internal energy must change unless heat is removed (or added to) the system, respectively.

In thermodynamic processes you must be careful to understand when you are applying a specialized condition (heat in a constant volume situation, which is incompatible with isothermal processes) rather than a general condition (first law of thermodynamics).