A heat engine that is 40% efficient and has a heat input of 200 J per cycle at the hot reservoir will waste 80 J of heat each cycle.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The heat engine's efficiency is 40%, which means that it converts 40% of the heat input into work output. The remaining heat that is not converted into work is released as waste heat. Therefore, the waste heat per cycle will be 60% of the heat input, which is 120 J, not 80 J.

A Heat Engine That Is 40% Efficient and Has a Heat