Question

A Carnot engine working between $300K$ and $600K$ has a work output of $800J$ per cycle. The amount of heat energy supplied to the engine from the source in each cycle is

• A. $6400J$
• B. $3200J$
• C. $1600J$
• D. $800J$

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

$1600J$

The efficiency of the cycle is given as $\eta =1-\frac{T_2}{T_1}=\frac{W}{Q_1}$. Here $T_1$ is the temperature of the source and $T_2$ is the temperature of the sink. $Q_1$ is the heat taken up from the source and $W$ is the work done in the process.

Thus, we get $\eta =1-\frac{300}{600}=\frac{800}{Q_1}=\frac{1}{2}$

Thus, we calculate $Q_1$ as 1600 J.