The steam engine pictured below demonstrates principles of thermodynamics. Water boils, creating steam that pushes against a piston. The steam then changes back to water in the condenser, and the water circulates back to the boiler. The efficiency of this engine is e = W/QH = 1 – QC / QH where W is the output work, QH is the heat put in, and QC is the heat that is rejected out in condenser. It is not possible to convert all of the input heat into output work. A refrigerator works like a heat engine in reverse. Heat is absorbed from water in a refrigerator when the liquid (called refrigerant) that circulates through the refrigerator changes to gas. During the process, water in refrigerator freezes. The refrigerator works in such a manner that a temperature below the melting point of ice is maintained in it. The gas is then changed back to liquid in a compressor, and the refrigerant is then recirculated.

The steam engine pictured below demonstrates principles of thermodynamics. Water boils, creating steam that pushes against a piston. The steam then changes back to water in the condenser, and the water circulates back to the boiler. The efficiency of this engine is e = W/Q_H = 1 – Q_C / Q_H

where W is the output work, Q_H is the heat put in, and Q_C is the heat that is rejected out in condenser. It is not possible to convert all of the input heat into output work. A refrigerator works like a heat engine in reverse. Heat is absorbed from water in a refrigerator when the liquid (called refrigerant) that circulates through the refrigerator changes to gas. During the process, water in refrigerator freezes. The refrigerator works in such a manner that a temperature below the melting point of ice is maintained in it. The gas is then changed back to liquid in a compressor, and the refrigerant is then recirculated.

Linked Question 1

Surrounding the condenser in the heat engine with which one of the following would be most effective for changing steam to water?

High-pressure steam

Low-pressure steam

Stationary water

Circulating water

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Linked Question 2

Which of the following accurately compares the boiling or freezing points of water and of a refrigerant used in a refrigerator?

The boiling point of the refrigerant should be lower than the freezing point of water

The boiling point of the refrigerant should be higher than the boiling point of water

The freezing point of the refrigerant should be higher than the freezing point of water.

The freezing point of the refrigerant should be higher than the boiling point of water

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Linked Question 3

The amount of heat that a unit of mass of a refrigerant can absorb from a refrigerator is primarily dependent on which of the following characteristics of the refrigerant?

Heat of vaporization

Heat of fusion

Specific heat in liquid form

Specific heat in gaseous form

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