Practice question · Put in order
Arrange the four steps of the Carnot cycle in order, beginning at the hot reservoir.
- Isothermal compression at the cold temperature, rejecting heat
- Adiabatic compression, warming back to the hot temperature
- Isothermal expansion at the hot temperature, absorbing heat
- Adiabatic expansion, cooling to the cold temperature
Hints
- The two isothermal steps are where heat is exchanged; the adiabatic steps move between temperatures.
- The cycle alternates isothermal and adiabatic steps.
Show the answer
- Isothermal expansion at the hot temperature, absorbing heat
- Adiabatic expansion, cooling to the cold temperature
- Isothermal compression at the cold temperature, rejecting heat
- Adiabatic compression, warming back to the hot temperature
Why
The cycle alternates: absorb heat isothermally hot, coast down adiabatically, reject heat isothermally cold, and climb back adiabatically. Only the isothermal legs exchange heat, and the adiabatic legs merely change temperature.
Practise Cyclic Processes and the Carnot Cycle
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