For one complete cycle of a reversible heat engine, which of the following quantities is NOT zero?
A)the change in the entropy of the working gas
B)the change in the pressure of the working gas
C)the change in the internal energy of the working gas
D)the work done by the working gas
E)the change in the temperature of the working gas

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The work done by the working gas is not zero during a complete cycle of a reversible heat engine. This is because the engine absorbs heat Qh from a high-temperature reservoir, performs work W, and exhausts heat Qc to a low-temperature reservoir. The net work done by the engine is equal to the difference between the heat absorbed and the heat exhausted, which is nonzero. The change in entropy, pressure, internal energy, and temperature of the working gas can all be zero if the engine undergoes a reversible cycle.

For One Complete Cycle of a Reversible Heat Engine, Which