A Carnot engine operates between Th = 500 K and Tc = 350 K. What is the maximum efficiency?

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Multiple Choice

A Carnot engine operates between Th = 500 K and Tc = 350 K. What is the maximum efficiency?

The maximum efficiency of a Carnot engine depends only on the temperatures of the hot and cold reservoirs. It is given by η_max = 1 − Tc/Th, with Th and Tc in Kelvin. Here, Th = 500 K and Tc = 350 K, so η_max = 1 − 350/500 = 1 − 0.7 = 0.30, or 30%. This is the theoretical upper bound for any engine operating between those two temperatures. The other percentages would require different temperature ratios (for example, a lower Tc/Th ratio would give a higher efficiency, and a higher ratio would give a lower efficiency).

The maximum efficiency of a Carnot engine depends only on the temperatures of the hot and cold reservoirs. It is given by η_max = 1 − Tc/Th, with Th and Tc in Kelvin.

Here, Th = 500 K and Tc = 350 K, so η_max = 1 − 350/500 = 1 − 0.7 = 0.30, or 30%. This is the theoretical upper bound for any engine operating between those two temperatures.

The other percentages would require different temperature ratios (for example, a lower Tc/Th ratio would give a higher efficiency, and a higher ratio would give a lower efficiency).

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