Question

A Carnot engine whose sink is at $$300\,K$$  has an efficiency of $$40\% .$$  By how much should the temperature of source be increased so as to increase its efficiency by $$50\% $$  of original efficiency ?

A. $$275\,K$$
B. $$325\,K$$
C. $$250\,K$$  
D. $$380\,K$$
Answer :   $$250\,K$$
Solution :
The efficiency of Carnot engine is defined as the ratio of work done to the heat supplied i.e.
$$\eqalign{ & \eta = \frac{{{\text{Work done}}}}{{{\text{Heat supplied}}}} = \frac{W}{{{Q_1}}} = \frac{{{Q_1} - {Q_2}}}{{{Q_1}}} \cr & = 1 - \frac{{{Q_2}}}{{{Q_1}}} = 1 - \frac{{{T_2}}}{{{T_1}}} \cr} $$
Here, $${{T_1}}$$ is the temperature of source, $${{T_2}}$$ is the temperature of sink, $${{Q_1}}$$ is heat absorbed and $${{Q_2}}$$ heat rejected
As given, $$\eta = 40\% = \frac{{40}}{{100}} = 0.4\,\,{\text{and}}\,\,{T_2} = 300\;K$$
So $$0.4 = 1 - \frac{{300}}{{{T_1}}} \Rightarrow {T_1} = \frac{{300}}{{1 - 0.4}} = \frac{{300}}{{0.6}} = 500\,K$$
Let temperature of the source be increased by $$x K,$$  then efficiency becomes
$$\eqalign{ & \eta ' = 40\% + 50\% {\text{ of }}\eta \cr & = \frac{{40}}{{100}} + \frac{{50}}{{100}} \times 0.4 \cr & = 0.4 + 0.5 \times 0.4 = 0.6 \cr} $$
Hence, $$0.6 = 1 - \frac{{300}}{{500 + x}}$$
$$\eqalign{ & \Rightarrow \frac{{300}}{{500 + x}} = 0.4 \cr & \Rightarrow 500 + x = \frac{{300}}{{0.4}} = 750 \cr & \therefore x = 750 - 500 = 250\;K \cr} $$
NOTE
All reversible heat engines working between same temperatures are equally efficient and no heat engine can be more efficient than Carnot engine (as it is ideal).

Releted MCQ Question on
Heat and Thermodynamics >> Thermodynamics

Releted Question 1

An ideal monatomic gas is taken round the cycle $$ABCDA$$   as shown in the $$P - V$$  diagram (see Fig.). The work done during the cycle is
Thermodynamics mcq question image

A. $$PV$$
B. $$2PV$$
C. $$\frac{1}{2}PV$$
D. zero
Releted Question 2

If one mole of a monatomic gas $$\left( {\gamma = \frac{5}{3}} \right)$$  is mixed with one mole of a diatomic gas $$\left( {\gamma = \frac{7}{5}} \right)$$  the value of $$\gamma $$ for mixture is

A. 1.40
B. 1.50
C. 1.53
D. 3.07
Releted Question 3

A closed compartment containing gas is moving with some acceleration in horizontal direction. Neglect effect of gravity. Then the pressure in the compartment is

A. same everywhere
B. lower in the front side
C. lower in the rear side
D. lower in the upper side
Releted Question 4

A gas mixture consists of 2 moles of oxygen and 4 moles of argon at temperature $$T.$$ Neglecting all vibrational modes, the total internal energy of the system is

A. $$4\, RT$$
B. $$15\, RT$$
C. $$9\, RT$$
D. $$11\, RT$$

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