A Carnot engine operates between 200°C and 20°C.Its maximum possible efficiency is:
A)90%
B)100%
C)38%
D)72%
E)24%

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The maximum possible efficiency of a Carnot engine is given by the formula:
Efficiency = 1 - T2/T1
where T1 is the temperature of the hot reservoir and T2 is the temperature of the cold reservoir.

Converting both temperatures to Kelvin, we have:
T1 = 273 + 200 = 473K
T2 = 273 + 20 = 293K

Substituting these values into the efficiency formula, we get:
Efficiency = 1 - 293/473
Efficiency = 0.38 or 38%

Therefore, the best choice for the maximum possible efficiency of this Carnot engine is C, which is 38%.

A Carnot Engine Operates Between 200°C and 20°C