Final answer:
The coefficient of performance of a refrigerator is calculated using the ratio of heat removed from the cold reservoir to the work performed by the refrigerator, applying the first law of thermodynamics and considering the refrigeration cycle as a cyclical process.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question is related to the coefficient of performance of a refrigerator, which requires an understanding of the principles of thermodynamics. To calculate the coefficient, one must apply the first law of thermodynamics and understand what constitutes a cyclical process. The coefficient of performance for a refrigerator is the ratio of heat transfer from the cold reservoir to the work supplied. To solve problems like this, one must often make calculations based on the amount of work done and heat transferred during a refrigeration cycle.
Examples and Explanation
For instance, when given that a refrigerator has a coefficient of performance of 3.0 and requires 200 J of work per cycle (example 29), you would use the formula:
COP = Qc / W
where COP is the coefficient of performance, Qc is the heat removed from the cold reservoir, and W is the work done by the refrigerator. With a COP of 3.0 and work of 200 J, rearranging the formula gives:
Qc = COP × W = 3.0 × 200 J = 600 J
This means the refrigerator removes 600 J of heat from the cold reservoir per cycle. Additionally, the total heat discharge to the hot reservoir (Qh) can be calculated using the first law of thermodynamics:
Qh = Qc + W, thus Qh = 600 J + 200 J = 800 J