Question

To increase the maximum efficiency of a heat engine, what can you do? Choose all that apply.

a. Increase the temperature of the cold reservoir
b. Decrease the temperature of the hot reservoir
c. Decrease the temperature of the cold reservoir
d. Increase the temperature of the hot reservoir

Answer 1

To increase the maximum efficiency of a heat engine, you should increase the temperature of the hot reservoir and decrease the temperature of the cold reservoir.

Step-by-step explanation:

To increase the maximum efficiency of a heat engine, you should increase the temperature of the hot reservoir (option d) and decrease the temperature of the cold reservoir (option c). By increasing the temperature difference between the hot and cold reservoirs, you can maximize the efficiency of the heat engine. For example, if the hot reservoir is at a higher temperature and the cold reservoir is at a lower temperature, the heat engine can extract more energy from the hot reservoir and convert it into useful work.

Answer 2

To increase the efficiency of a heat engine, one should increase the temperature of the hot reservoir and decrease the temperature of the cold reservoir, as a larger temperature difference between the two enhances efficiency.

Step-by-step explanation:

To increase the maximum efficiency of a heat engine, one should consider changes to the temperatures of the thermal reservoirs involved in the engine's cycle. According to the principles of thermodynamics, particularly the Carnot cycle, the efficiency of a heat engine is dependent on the temperatures of the hot and cold reservoirs. To enhance the efficiency:

• Increase the temperature of the hot reservoir (d).
• Decrease the temperature of the cold reservoir (c).

These actions will widen the temperature difference between the hot and cold reservoirs which is conducive to greater heat engine efficiency, as it allows for a greater proportion of the heat energy to be converted into work.