A heat engine operates between 900 K and 300 K. What is the maximum theoretical efficiency?

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Multiple Choice

A heat engine operates between 900 K and 300 K. What is the maximum theoretical efficiency?

Explanation:
The maximum possible efficiency of a heat engine is set by the Carnot limit, which depends only on the temperatures of the hot and cold reservoirs: η_max = 1 − Tc/Th, with temperatures in Kelvin. Here, Th = 900 K and Tc = 300 K, so η_max = 1 − 300/900 = 1 − 1/3 = 2/3 ≈ 0.6667, or about 66.7%. That is why the best theoretical efficiency for these temperatures is 66.7%.

The maximum possible efficiency of a heat engine is set by the Carnot limit, which depends only on the temperatures of the hot and cold reservoirs: η_max = 1 − Tc/Th, with temperatures in Kelvin. Here, Th = 900 K and Tc = 300 K, so η_max = 1 − 300/900 = 1 − 1/3 = 2/3 ≈ 0.6667, or about 66.7%. That is why the best theoretical efficiency for these temperatures is 66.7%.

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