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Define the carnot cycle
Accepted Answer
The Carnot cycle is a theoretical thermodynamic cycle that describes the most efficient possible way to convert heat into work. It consists of four reversible processes:
1. Isothermal Expansion: Heat is absorbed from a high-temperature reservoir, causing the working substance to expand at a constant temperature.
2. Adiabatic Expansion: The system expands further, doing work on its surroundings, but without exchanging heat. This results in a decrease in temperature.
3. Isothermal Compression: Heat is released to a low-temperature reservoir as the system is compressed at a constant temperature.
4. Adiabatic Compression: The system is further compressed, increasing its temperature without exchanging heat.
The efficiency of a Carnot cycle is determined by the temperatures of the hot and cold reservoirs. The higher the temperature difference, the more efficient the cycle.
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