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Two Carnot engines A and B are operated in series. The engine A receives heat from the source at temperature T and rejects the heat to the sink at temperature T. The second engine B receives the heat at temperature Tand rejects to its sink at temperature T2. For what value of T the efficiencies of the two engines are equal.

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Final Answer:

The value of T at which the efficiencies of the two engines are equal is √T₁T₂. Option C is correct.

Step-by-step explanation:

In a series combination of Carnot engines, the overall efficiency is given by the product of the individual efficiencies. The efficiency of a Carnot engine is given by 1 - (T₂/T₁), where T₁ is the temperature at which it receives heat and T₂ is the temperature at which it rejects heat.

So, the efficiency of engine A is 1 - (T/T₁), and the efficiency of engine B is 1 - (T₂/T). To find the value of T at which the efficiencies of the two engines are equal, we can equate the two expressions:

1 - (T/T₁) = 1 - (T₂/T)

Canceling out the 1's, we have:

T/T₁ = T₂/T

Cross-multiplying, we get:

T * T = T₁ * T₂

Simplifying, we have:

T = √(T₁ * T₂)

Therefore, the value of T at which the efficiencies of the two engines are equal is √T₁T₂.

So, the correct answer is (c) √T₁T₂.

Complete question:

Two Carnot engines A and B are operated in series. The engine A receives heat from the source at temperature T₁ and rejects the heat to the sink at temperature T. The second engine B receives the heat at temperature T and rejects to its sink at temperature T₂. For what value of T the efficiencies of the two engines are equal.

  • (a) (T₁- T₂) / 2
  • (b) T₁T₂
  • (c) √T₁T₂
  • (d) (T₁+T₂) / 2
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