Carnot devices: The compressor in a certain Carnot refrigerator performs 480 J of work to remove 150 J of heat from the interior of the refrigerator. How much heat must the coils behind the refrigerator discharge into the kitchen?
A) 110 J
B) 150 J
C) 330 J
D) 480 J
E) 630 J

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Carnot refrigerator works on the principle of conservation of energy. The work done by the compressor (480 J) is used to remove heat from the interior (150 J) and the rest is discharged as heat into the surroundings. Therefore, the heat discharged = work done by the compressor - heat removed from the interior = 480 J - 150 J = 330 J. However, the correct calculation should be the sum of the work done by the compressor and the heat removed from the interior, which equals 480 J + 150 J = 630 J, indicating an error in the initial explanation. The correct answer, accounting for the principles of thermodynamics and energy conservation in a Carnot cycle, is that the total energy discharged as heat into the surroundings equals the sum of the work input and the heat extracted from the refrigerator's interior.

Carnot Devices: the Compressor in a Certain Carnot Refrigerator Performs