A Carnot heat engine and an irreversible heat engine both operate between the same high temperature and low temperature reservoirs.They absorb the same heat from the high temperature reservoir as heat.The irreversible engine:
A)does more work
B)rejects more energy to the low temperature reservoir as heat
C)has the greater efficiency
D)has the same efficiency as the reversible engine
E)cannot absorb the same energy from the high temperature reservoir as heat without violating the second law of thermodynamics

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

According to the Second Law of Thermodynamics, the efficiency of an irreversible heat engine must be less than that of a Carnot heat engine operating between the same two temperatures. Therefore, the irreversible engine will reject more energy to the low temperature reservoir as heat. The amount of work done by the irreversible engine depends on its overall efficiency, which is always less than that of the Carnot engine. Hence, we cannot conclude that the irreversible engine will do more work. Therefore, B is the correct choice.

A Carnot Heat Engine and an Irreversible Heat Engine Both