Question

Tony Stark wants to build an engine to propel his Iron Man suit; he wants to achieve an efficiency of 1.5 to make the suit lighter and faster! Which of the following laws of physics would he be violating?

• A. 1^st law of Thermodynamics
• B. 2^nd law of Thermodynamics
• C. Both (a) and (b)
• D. Neither (a) and (b)

Answer 1

The correct option is C

Both (a) and (b)

Efficiency greater than 1 means that the work output of the engine is greater than the heat input! This violates the conservation of energy, or the 1${}^{st}$ law of thermodynamics. Also the 2${}^{nd}$ law prohibits the efficiency to be equal to 1, hence it is also being violated.