2026 · Q119
Which of the following statements regarding Carnot engine is/are correct?
- 1It is an irreversible engine operating between two temperatures T1 (source) and T2 (sink).
- 2Its efficiency is given by η = 1 - T₂/T₁, where T1 is the temperature of source and T2 is the temperature of sink. Select the answer using the code given below.
general-sciencephysics-mechanics
- A1 only
- B2 only
- CBoth 1 and 2
- DNeither 1 nor 2
Explanation
The Carnot engine is an idealised reversible engine operating between two reservoirs — statement 1's 'irreversible' is wrong. Its efficiency is η = 1 − T₂/T₁ with absolute temperatures of source (T₁) and sink (T₂) — statement 2 is correct. Hence only statement 2 is correct.