If a heat engine is operating between two temperatures (^QH > ^QC), what is the maximum efficiency attainable?

Question

answers below:
QH - QC
QC - QH
1 - QC/QH
1 - QH/QC

Answer 1

The maximum efficiency (\(\eta\)) of a heat engine operating between two temperatures is given by the Carnot efficiency formula:

\[ \eta = 1 - \frac{Q_C}{Q_H} \]

where \(Q_H\) is the heat absorbed from the hot reservoir and \(Q_C\) is the heat rejected to the cold reservoir. This means the correct answer for the maximum efficiency attainable is:

1 - QC/QH