Physics: Trivia Questions On The Laws Of Thermodynamics

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1. In an isothermal process, there is no change in

Explanation

In an isothermal process, the temperature remains constant. This means that there is no change in the average kinetic energy of the particles in the system. As a result, the pressure, volume, and heat of the system may change, but the temperature will remain the same throughout the process.

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About This Quiz
Physics: Trivia Questions On The Laws Of Thermodynamics - Quiz

Welcome to the "Laws of Thermodynamics Quiz," where you can put your knowledge of this fundamental aspect of physics to the test. Thermodynamics involves the study of heat,... see moreenergy, and their transformations under various conditions. This quiz focuses on the three core laws that define how energy moves within physical systems and how it affects matter.

Starting with the Zeroth Law, which establishes thermal equilibrium, moving on to the First Law concerning energy conservation, diving into the Second Law which explains entropy, and wrapping up with the Third Law which discusses absolute zero—this quiz covers all crucial bases. Each question is carefully crafted to challenge your understanding and help you grasp the practical applications of these laws in real-world scenarios.

Whether you're a student looking to solidify your grasp of thermodynamics, a teacher seeking a resource for your class, or a curious mind eager to learn about the principles that govern our universe, this quiz is designed to be both informative and engaging. Get ready to heat things up with our "Laws of Thermodynamics Quiz" and see how well you understand these essential energy laws!
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2. A gas is expanded to twice its original volume with no change in its temperature. This process is

Explanation

When a gas is expanded to twice its original volume with no change in temperature, it means that the gas is undergoing an isothermal process. In an isothermal process, the temperature of the system remains constant throughout the expansion or compression. This is achieved by transferring heat to or from the surroundings to maintain the temperature constant. Therefore, the correct answer is isothermal.

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3. In an isochoric process, there is no change in

Explanation

In an isochoric process, the volume of the system remains constant. This means that there is no change in the amount of space occupied by the system. The other options, such as pressure, temperature, and internal energy, can all change in an isochoric process. However, the volume specifically remains the same throughout the process.

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4. A refrigerator removes heat from the freezing compartment at the rate of 20 kJ and ejects 24 kJ into a room per cycle. How much work is required in each cycle?

Explanation

In a refrigerator, work is done to remove heat from the freezing compartment. The work done is equal to the heat removed from the compartment. In this case, the refrigerator removes heat at a rate of 20 kJ per cycle. Therefore, the work required in each cycle is also 20 kJ.

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5. In an isobaric process, there is no change in

Explanation

In an isobaric process, the pressure remains constant. This means that the system is undergoing a change or transformation while being exposed to a constant external pressure. While there may be changes in temperature, volume, and internal energy, the pressure remains the same throughout the process.

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6. A heat engine absorbs 64 kcal of heat each cycle and exhausts 42 kcal. Calculate the work done each cycle.

Explanation

The work done by a heat engine is equal to the difference between the heat absorbed and the heat exhausted. In this case, the heat absorbed is 64 kcal and the heat exhausted is 42 kcal. Therefore, the work done each cycle is 64 kcal - 42 kcal = 22 kcal.

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7. When water freezes, the entropy of the water

Explanation

When water freezes, the molecules in the water slow down and form a rigid, ordered structure. This decrease in molecular motion and randomness leads to a decrease in entropy.

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8. A heat engine has an efficiency of 35.0% and receives 150 J of heat per cycle. How much work does it perform in each cycle?

Explanation

The efficiency of a heat engine is defined as the ratio of the work output to the heat input. In this case, the efficiency is given as 35.0%, which means that only 35.0% of the heat input is converted into work output. Since the heat input is 150 J, the work output can be calculated by multiplying the heat input by the efficiency. Therefore, the work performed in each cycle is 150 J * 0.35 = 52.5 J.

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9. Is it possible to transfer heat from a hot reservoir to a cold reservoir?

Explanation

Heat transfer from a hot reservoir to a cold reservoir is possible and it occurs naturally due to the principle of the second law of thermodynamics. According to this law, heat flows spontaneously from a higher temperature region to a lower temperature region until equilibrium is reached. This process is known as heat transfer by conduction, convection, or radiation, and it happens in various everyday situations, such as when a hot object cools down or when warm air rises and cold air sinks.

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10. During an isothermal process, 5.0 J of heat is removed from an ideal gas. What is the change in internal energy?

Explanation

In an isothermal process, the temperature of the system remains constant. According to the first law of thermodynamics, the change in internal energy (ΔU) is equal to the heat added or removed (Q) minus the work done by the system (W). Since the temperature remains constant, there is no change in internal energy (ΔU = 0) even if heat is removed from the gas. Therefore, the correct answer is zero.

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11. A Carnot cycle consists of

Explanation

A Carnot cycle consists of two adiabats and two isotherms. This is because a Carnot cycle is a theoretical thermodynamic cycle that consists of two isothermal processes (during which the system is in thermal equilibrium with a heat reservoir) and two adiabatic processes (during which no heat is exchanged with the surroundings). The isothermal processes allow for heat transfer at constant temperature, while the adiabatic processes allow for work to be done on or by the system without any heat exchange. Therefore, the correct answer is two adiabats and two isotherms.

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12. If the theoretical efficiency of a Carnot engine is to be 100%, the heat sink must be

Explanation

The theoretical efficiency of a Carnot engine is given by the formula 1 - (Tc/Th), where Tc is the temperature of the heat sink and Th is the temperature of the heat source. To achieve an efficiency of 100%, Tc must be as close to absolute zero as possible. This is because the efficiency approaches 1 when Tc approaches absolute zero. Therefore, the heat sink must be at absolute zero.

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13. When the first law of thermodynamics, Q = ΔU + W, is applied to an ideal gas that is taken through an isothermal process,

Explanation

When an ideal gas is taken through an isothermal process, the temperature remains constant. According to the first law of thermodynamics, the change in internal energy (ΔU) of a system is equal to the heat added (Q) to the system minus the work done (W) by the system. In an isothermal process, there is no change in internal energy because the temperature remains constant. Therefore, ΔU = 0 is the correct answer.

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14. During each cycle of operation, a refrigerator absorbs 230 J of heat from the freezer and expels 356 J of heat to the room. How much work input is required in each cycle?

Explanation

In a refrigerator, work input is required to transfer heat from a cooler region (freezer) to a warmer region (room). The work input is equal to the difference between the heat absorbed from the freezer and the heat expelled to the room. In this case, the refrigerator absorbs 230 J of heat from the freezer and expels 356 J of heat to the room. Therefore, the work input required in each cycle is 356 J - 230 J = 126 J.

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15. 200 J of work is done in compressing a gas adiabatically. What is the change in internal energy of the gas?

Explanation

When work is done adiabatically on a gas, there is no heat transfer between the gas and its surroundings. Therefore, the change in internal energy of the gas is equal to the work done on the gas. In this case, 200 J of work is done on the gas, so the change in internal energy is also 200 J.

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16. When the first law of thermodynamics, Q = ΔU + W, is applied to an ideal gas that is taken through an isochoric process,

Explanation

In an isochoric process, the volume of the gas remains constant. As a result, there is no work done by or on the gas because work is defined as the product of force and displacement, and there is no displacement in this case. Therefore, W = 0.

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17. When the first law of thermodynamics, Q = ΔU + W, is applied to an ideal gas that is taken through an adiabatic process,

Explanation

When the first law of thermodynamics is applied to an adiabatic process, it means that there is no heat transfer (Q = 0) because the system is thermally isolated. In this case, the change in internal energy (ΔU) is also zero because there is no heat added or removed from the system. Additionally, the work done (W) is also zero because there is no expansion or compression of the gas. Therefore, the correct answer is Q = 0.

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18. A monatomic gas is cooled by 50 K at constant volume when 831 J of energy is removed from it. How many moles of gas are in the sample?

Explanation

When a monatomic gas is cooled at constant volume, the change in internal energy (ΔU) is equal to the heat removed (Q) from the gas. The change in internal energy can be calculated using the formula ΔU = nCvΔT, where n is the number of moles of gas, Cv is the molar specific heat capacity at constant volume, and ΔT is the change in temperature. Rearranging the formula, we get n = ΔU / (CvΔT). Plugging in the given values, n = 831 J / (12.5 J/(mol·K) * 50 K) = 1.33 mol. Therefore, the number of moles of gas in the sample is 1.33 mol.

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19. Is it possible to transfer heat from a cold reservoir to a hot reservoir?

Explanation

Yes, it is possible to transfer heat from a cold reservoir to a hot reservoir, but work needs to be done in order to achieve this. This is because heat naturally flows from a hot region to a cold region, so in order to reverse this natural flow, external work needs to be applied. This can be done through the use of a heat pump or a refrigeration system, where work is done to extract heat from a cold reservoir and transfer it to a hot reservoir.

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20. An ideal gas is compressed to one-half its original volume during an isothermal process. The final pressure of the gas

Explanation

During an isothermal process, the temperature of the gas remains constant. According to Boyle's Law, the pressure and volume of a gas are inversely proportional when the temperature is constant. Therefore, when the gas is compressed to one-half its original volume, the pressure will increase to twice its original value to maintain the same temperature.

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21. A system consists of 3.0 kg of water at 80°C. 30 J of work is done on the system by stirring with a paddle wheel, while 66 J of heat is removed. What is the change in internal energy of the system?

Explanation

When 30 J of work is done on the system, it increases the internal energy of the system. However, when 66 J of heat is removed from the system, it decreases the internal energy. Since the heat removed is greater than the work done, the net change in internal energy is negative. Therefore, the change in internal energy of the system is -36 J.

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22. The second law of thermodynamics leads us to conclude that

Explanation

The second law of thermodynamics states that the entropy, or disorder, of an isolated system will always increase over time. This means that as time passes, the universe tends to become more disordered. Therefore, the answer "disorder in the universe is increasing with the passage of time" aligns with the second law of thermodynamics.

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23. An ideal gas undergoes an adiabatic process while doing 25 J of work. What is the change in internal energy?

Explanation

In an adiabatic process, there is no heat exchange between the system and its surroundings. Therefore, the change in internal energy is solely determined by the work done on or by the system. Since the ideal gas is doing 25 J of work, this indicates that the internal energy of the gas decreases by 25 J. Therefore, the change in internal energy is -25 J.

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24. In an isochoric process, the internal energy of a system decreases by 50 J. What is the heat exchange?

Explanation

In an isochoric process, the volume of the system remains constant. Since the internal energy decreases by 50 J, it means that energy is being removed from the system. This energy removal is in the form of heat exchange, and since the internal energy is decreasing, the heat exchange must be negative. Therefore, the correct answer is -50 J.

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25. A heat engine receives 7000 J of heat and loses 3000 J in each cycle. What is the efficiency?

Explanation

The efficiency of a heat engine is calculated by dividing the useful output energy by the input energy. In this case, the useful output energy is the heat received minus the heat lost, which is 7000 J - 3000 J = 4000 J. The input energy is the heat received, which is 7000 J. Therefore, the efficiency is (4000 J / 7000 J) * 100% = 57%.

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26. A heat engine absorbs 64 kcal of heat each cycle and exhausts 42 kcal. Calculate the efficiency of each cycle.

Explanation

The efficiency of a heat engine is calculated by dividing the useful output energy (in this case, the heat absorbed) by the input energy (the heat absorbed plus the heat exhausted). In this case, the heat absorbed is 64 kcal and the heat exhausted is 42 kcal. Therefore, the efficiency is calculated as (64 / (64 + 42)) * 100 = 34%.

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27. A gas is allowed to expand at constant pressure as heat is added to it. This process is

Explanation

In this scenario, the gas is allowed to expand at a constant pressure as heat is added. This indicates that the pressure remains constant throughout the process. The term "isobaric" specifically refers to a process where the pressure remains constant. Therefore, the correct answer is isobaric.

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28. The coefficient of performance (COP) of a heat pump is defined as the ratio of

Explanation

The coefficient of performance (COP) of a heat pump is defined as the ratio of the heat delivered to the inside to the work done to move the heat. This means that the COP measures the efficiency of the heat pump in transferring heat from a colder area (outside) to a warmer area (inside). It indicates how much heat energy is delivered for a certain amount of work done. A higher COP indicates a more efficient heat pump, as it delivers more heat for the same amount of work.

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29. In an isochoric process, the internal energy of a system decreases by 50 J. What is the work done?

Explanation

In an isochoric process, the volume of the system remains constant. Since work is defined as the product of force and displacement, and there is no displacement in this case, the work done is zero. The decrease in internal energy does not necessarily mean that work is done, as internal energy can also change due to heat transfer. Therefore, the correct answer is zero.

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30. An ideal gas is compressed isothermally from 30 L to 20 L. During this process, 6.0 J of energy is expended by the external mechanism that compressed the gas. What is the change of internal energy for this gas?

Explanation

During an isothermal process, the temperature of the gas remains constant. As a result, the internal energy of the gas also remains constant since internal energy is directly proportional to temperature. Therefore, the change in internal energy for this gas is zero.

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31. The work done on an ideal gas system in an isothermal process is -400 J. What is the change in internal energy?

Explanation

In an isothermal process, the temperature of the gas remains constant. According to the first law of thermodynamics, the change in internal energy (ΔU) of a system is equal to the work done on or by the system (W) plus the heat transferred (Q). Since the work done on the gas is -400 J, and the process is isothermal, it means that the heat transferred (Q) into the system is also 400 J. Therefore, the change in internal energy (ΔU) is zero, as the work done and heat transferred cancel each other out.

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32. The efficiency of a Carnot engine is 35.0%. What is the temperature of the cold reservoir if the temperature of the hot reservoir is 500 K?

Explanation

The efficiency of a Carnot engine is given by the formula: efficiency = 1 - (Tc/Th), where Tc is the temperature of the cold reservoir and Th is the temperature of the hot reservoir. In this case, the efficiency is given as 35.0%, which can be converted to 0.35. Plugging in the values, we get 0.35 = 1 - (Tc/500). Solving for Tc, we find Tc = 325 K. Therefore, the temperature of the cold reservoir is 325 K.

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33. A certain amount of a monatomic gas is maintained at constant volume as it is cooled by 50 K. This feat is accomplished by removing 400 J of energy from the gas. How much work is done by the gas?

Explanation

When a gas is cooled at constant volume, no work is done by the gas. This is because work is defined as the transfer of energy due to a force acting through a distance. Since the volume is constant, there is no change in the distance over which the force is acting, and therefore no work is done. Thus, the correct answer is zero.

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34. What is the Carnot efficiency of an engine which operates between 450 K and 310 K?

Explanation

The Carnot efficiency of an engine is given by the formula (1 - Tc/Th) * 100%, where Tc is the temperature of the cold reservoir and Th is the temperature of the hot reservoir. In this case, the cold reservoir temperature is 310 K and the hot reservoir temperature is 450 K. Plugging these values into the formula, we get (1 - 310/450) * 100% = 31%. Therefore, the Carnot efficiency of the engine is 31%.

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35. Consider two cylinders of gas identical in all respects except that one contains O2 and the other He. Both hold the same volume of gas at STP and are closed by a movable piston at one end. Both gases are now compressed adiabatically to one-third their original volume. Which gas will show the greater pressure increase?

Explanation

The pressure of a gas is directly proportional to its temperature and inversely proportional to its volume, according to the ideal gas law. Since both gases are compressed adiabatically (without any heat exchange with the surroundings), the temperature of the gases will increase. As the volume of the gases is reduced to one-third of their original volume, the pressure will increase. However, since both gases are identical in all other respects, the increase in pressure will be the same for both gases. Therefore, the correct answer is that neither gas will show a greater pressure increase.

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36. What is the change in entropy when 50 g of ice melts at 0°C?

Explanation

When 50 g of ice melts at 0°C, it undergoes a phase change from a solid to a liquid. During this phase change, the entropy of the system increases because the molecules in the liquid state have more freedom of movement compared to the rigid structure of the solid state. The positive change in entropy indicates an increase in disorder or randomness in the system. Therefore, the correct answer is 14.7 cal/K.

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37. When the first law of thermodynamics, Q = ΔU + W, is applied to an ideal gas that is taken through an isobaric process,

Explanation

When an ideal gas is taken through an isobaric process, the change in internal energy (ΔU) is not zero because the temperature of the gas may change. The work done (W) is also not zero because there is a change in volume of the gas. The heat transfer (Q) is also not zero because energy is exchanged between the gas and its surroundings. Therefore, none of the above options are correct.

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38. Ten joules of heat energy are transferred to a sample of ideal gas at constant volume. As a result, the internal energy of the gas

Explanation

When heat energy is transferred to a sample of ideal gas at constant volume, the internal energy of the gas increases by an amount equal to the heat energy transferred. In this case, 10 joules of heat energy are transferred, so the internal energy of the gas increases by 10 J.

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39. The coefficient of performance (COP) of a refrigerator is defined as the ratio of

Explanation

The coefficient of performance (COP) of a refrigerator is a measure of its efficiency, specifically how much heat can be removed from the inside of the refrigerator for a given amount of work done to remove that heat. The COP is calculated by dividing the heat removed from the inside by the work done to remove that heat. This ratio indicates how effectively the refrigerator is able to cool its contents using the energy input. Therefore, the correct answer is "the heat removed from the inside to the work done to remove the heat."

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40. A gas is confined to a rigid container that cannot expand as heat energy is added to it. This process is

Explanation

In this scenario, the gas is confined to a rigid container that cannot expand. This means that the volume of the gas remains constant throughout the process. Since the volume is constant, it implies that no work is done by or on the gas. Therefore, the process is isochoric, also known as constant volume.

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41. During an isothermal process, 5.0 J of heat is removed from an ideal gas. What is the work done in the process?

Explanation

During an isothermal process, the temperature of the gas remains constant. According to the first law of thermodynamics, the change in internal energy of the gas is equal to the heat added or removed from the gas minus the work done by or on the gas. In this case, 5.0 J of heat is removed from the gas, so the change in internal energy is -5.0 J. Since the process is isothermal and the change in internal energy is negative, the work done by the gas must also be negative. Therefore, the work done in the process is -5.0 J.

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42. One of the most efficient engines built so far has the following characteristics: combustion chamber temperature = 1900°C, exhaust temperature = 430°C, 7.0 * 109 cal of fuel produces 1.4 * 10^10 J of work in one hour. What is the actual efficiency of this engine?

Explanation

The actual efficiency of an engine is calculated by dividing the work output by the energy input. In this case, the work output is given as 1.4 * 10^10 J. To find the energy input, we need to convert the given fuel energy from calories to joules. 7.0 * 10^9 cal is equivalent to 2.92 * 10^10 J. Dividing the work output by the energy input and multiplying by 100 gives us the efficiency as a percentage. Therefore, the actual efficiency of this engine is 48%.

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43. One of the most efficient engines built so far has the following characteristics: combustion chamber temperature = 1900°C, exhaust temperature = 430°C, 7.0 * 109 cal of fuel produces 1.4 * 10^10 J of work in one hour. What is the power output, in hp, of this engine?

Explanation

The power output of an engine can be calculated by dividing the work produced by the time taken. In this case, the work produced is given as 1.4 * 10^10 J in one hour. To convert this to kilowatts, we divide by 3600 (the number of seconds in an hour) and then by 1000 (to convert from joules to kilowatts). This gives us a power output of 3.89 kW. However, since the question asks for the power output in horsepower, we need to convert this value to horsepower. 1 horsepower is equal to 0.7457 kilowatts, so the power output is approximately 5.2 kW.

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44. A gas is quickly compressed in an isolated environment. During the event, the gas exchanged no heat with its surroundings. This process is

Explanation

In this scenario, the gas is quickly compressed in an isolated environment, meaning there is no heat exchange with the surroundings. This indicates that the process is adiabatic, as adiabatic processes involve no heat transfer.

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45. A heat engine operating between 40°C and 380°C has an efficiency 60% of that of a Carnot engine operating between the same temperatures. If the engine absorbs heat at a rate of 60 kW, at what rate does it exhaust heat?

Explanation

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46. A container of ideal gas at STP undergoes an isothermal expansion and its entropy changes by 3.7 J/°K. How much work does it do?

Explanation

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47. A heat engine has an efficiency of 35.0% and receives 150 J of heat per cycle. How much heat does it exhaust in each cycle?

Explanation

The efficiency of a heat engine is given by the formula: Efficiency = (Useful work output / Heat input) x 100%. In this case, the efficiency is given as 35%. Since the heat input is 150 J, we can use the formula to find the useful work output. Rearranging the formula, we get: Useful work output = (Efficiency / 100%) x Heat input. Plugging in the values, we find: Useful work output = (35% / 100%) x 150 J = 52.5 J. Since the question asks for the amount of heat exhausted, we subtract the useful work output from the heat input: Heat exhausted = Heat input - Useful work output = 150 J - 52.5 J = 97.5 J. Therefore, the correct answer is 97.5 J.

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48. Consider two cylinders of gas identical in all respects except that one contains O2 and the other He. Both hold the same volume of gas at STP and are closed by a movable piston at one end. Both gases are now compressed adiabatically to one-third their original volume. Which gas will show the greater temperature increase?

Explanation

When a gas is compressed adiabatically, its temperature increases. The temperature increase is determined by the ratio of specific heats (γ) of the gas. For both oxygen (O2) and helium (He), the value of γ is different. The value of γ for helium is greater than that of oxygen. Therefore, when both gases are compressed adiabatically to one-third of their original volume, helium will show a greater temperature increase compared to oxygen.

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49. 1.0 kg of steam at 100°C condenses to water at 100°C. What is the change in entropy in the process?

Explanation

When steam condenses to water at its boiling point, it undergoes a phase change from a gas to a liquid. During this process, the entropy decreases because the molecules become more ordered. The change in entropy can be calculated using the equation ΔS = Q/T, where ΔS is the change in entropy, Q is the heat transferred, and T is the temperature. In this case, since the steam condenses at 100°C, the temperature remains constant. Therefore, the change in entropy is determined solely by the heat transferred, which is -6.1 * 10^3 J/K.

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50. A refrigerator removes heat from the freezing compartment at the rate of 20 kJ and ejects 24 kJ into a room per cycle. What is the coefficient of performance?

Explanation

The coefficient of performance (COP) of a refrigerator is defined as the ratio of the heat removed from the freezing compartment to the work done by the refrigerator. In this case, the heat removed is given as 20 kJ and the work done is not provided. However, since the refrigerator is also ejecting 24 kJ into the room, we can assume that the work done is equal to the sum of the heat removed and the heat ejected, which is 20 kJ + 24 kJ = 44 kJ. Therefore, the COP is calculated as 20 kJ / 44 kJ = 0.45, which is closest to the option 5.0.

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51. The efficiency of a heat engine is defined as the ratio of

Explanation

The efficiency of a heat engine is defined as the ratio of the work it does to the heat input at the high temperature. This means that the efficiency of a heat engine is determined by how much useful work it can produce from the heat energy supplied at the high temperature. The heat output at the low temperature is not directly related to the efficiency of the engine, as it is the heat input at the high temperature that is used to perform work.

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52. A coal-fired plant generates 600 MW of electric power. The plant uses 4.8 * 10^6 kg of coal each day. The heat of combustion of coal is 3.3 * 10^7 J/kg. The steam that drives the turbines is at a temperature of 300°C, and the exhaust water is at 37°C. What is the Carnot efficiency?

Explanation

The Carnot efficiency is calculated using the formula: (1 - Tc/Th) * 100%, where Tc is the temperature of the exhaust water and Th is the temperature of the steam. In this case, Tc is 37°C and Th is 300°C. Plugging these values into the formula, we get (1 - 37/300) * 100% = 0.8767 * 100% = 87.67%. Therefore, the Carnot efficiency is 87.67%, which is closest to 46%.

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53. An ideal gas is expanded isothermally from 20 L to 30 L. During this process, 6 J of energy is expended by the external mechanism that expanded the gas. Which of the following statements is correct?

Explanation

During an isothermal process, the temperature of the gas remains constant. Since the gas is expanding, work is being done on the gas by the external mechanism. According to the first law of thermodynamics, the work done on the gas is equal to the energy transferred into the gas. Therefore, the 6 J of energy expended by the external mechanism flows from the surroundings into the gas.

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54. According to the second law of thermodynamics, for any process that may occur within an isolated system, which one of the choices applies?

Explanation

According to the second law of thermodynamics, the entropy of an isolated system can either remain constant or increase. This means that in some processes, the entropy of the system may stay the same, while in others, it may increase. Therefore, both options A (Entropy remains constant) and B (Entropy increases) are possible according to the second law of thermodynamics.

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55. A coal-fired plant generates 600 MW of electric power. The plant uses 4.8 * 10^6 kg of coal each day. The heat of combustion of coal is 3.3  * 10^7 J/kg. The steam that drives the turbines is at a temperature of 300°C, and the exhaust water is at 37°C. What is the overall efficiency of the plant for generating electric power?

Explanation

The overall efficiency of the plant for generating electric power can be calculated using the formula:

Efficiency = (Useful energy output / Energy input) * 100

In this case, the useful energy output is the electric power generated, which is 600 MW. The energy input is the heat of combustion of coal, which is 4.8 * 10^6 kg * 3.3 * 10^7 J/kg.

Efficiency = (600 MW / (4.8 * 10^6 kg * 3.3 * 10^7 J/kg)) * 100

Calculating this expression gives an efficiency of approximately 0.033, which is equivalent to 33%. Therefore, the correct answer is 33%.

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56. When 0.50 kg of ice freezes, the change in entropy is

Explanation

When 0.50 kg of ice freezes, the change in entropy is -610 J/K. This is because when a substance freezes, it undergoes a phase change from a more disordered state (liquid) to a more ordered state (solid). In this process, the molecules become more organized and arranged in a regular lattice structure, leading to a decrease in entropy. The negative sign indicates a decrease in entropy.

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57. A piece of metal at 80°C is placed in 1.2 L of water at 72°C. The system is thermally isolated and reaches a final temperature of 75°C. Estimate the approximate change in entropy for this process.

Explanation

When the metal at 80°C is placed in the water at 72°C, heat will flow from the metal to the water until they reach thermal equilibrium. The final temperature of 75°C suggests that some heat is transferred from the metal to the water. Since the system is thermally isolated, the total entropy change must be zero. Therefore, the change in entropy of the metal must be equal in magnitude but opposite in sign to the change in entropy of the water. The change in entropy of the water can be calculated using the equation ΔS = q/T, where q is the heat transferred and T is the temperature in Kelvin. By substituting the values, the approximate change in entropy for this process is calculated to be 0.118 cal/K.

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58. One of the most efficient engines built so far has the following characteristics: combustion chamber temperature = 1900°C, exhaust temperature = 430°C, 7.0 * 109 cal of fuel produces 1.4 * 10^10 J of work in one hour. What is the Carnot efficiency of this engine?

Explanation

The Carnot efficiency of an engine is determined by the temperatures of the hot and cold reservoirs. It is given by the formula: Carnot efficiency = 1 - (Tc/Th) where Tc is the temperature of the cold reservoir and Th is the temperature of the hot reservoir. In this case, the combustion chamber temperature is 1900°C, which is the temperature of the hot reservoir, and the exhaust temperature is 430°C, which is the temperature of the cold reservoir. Substituting these values into the formula, we get: Carnot efficiency = 1 - (430/1900) = 1 - 0.226 = 0.774 = 77.4% Therefore, the Carnot efficiency of this engine is 77.4%, which is closest to 68% among the given options.

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59. A coal-fired plant generates 600 MW of electric power. The plant uses 4.8 * 10^6 kg of coal each day. The heat of combustion of coal is 3.3 * 10^7 J/kg. The steam that drives the turbines is at a temperature of 300°C, and the exhaust water is at 37°C. How much thermal energy is exhausted each day?

Explanation

The thermal energy exhausted each day can be calculated by finding the energy released from burning the coal and subtracting the energy used to generate electricity. The energy released from burning the coal can be found by multiplying the mass of coal used by the heat of combustion. The energy used to generate electricity can be found by multiplying the power generated by the time it takes to generate it. Subtracting the energy used to generate electricity from the energy released from burning the coal gives the thermal energy exhausted each day. The correct answer of 1.1 * 10^14 J is obtained by performing these calculations.

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60. Ten joules of heat energy are transferred to a sample of ideal gas at constant pressure. As a result, the internal energy of the gas

Explanation

When heat energy is transferred to a sample of ideal gas at constant pressure, some of the energy is used to do work on the surroundings, such as expanding the gas. This means that not all of the heat energy is converted into an increase in the internal energy of the gas. Therefore, the internal energy of the gas increases by less than the 10 J of heat energy that was transferred.

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61. What is the maximum theoretical efficiency possible for an engine operating between 100°C and 400°C?

Explanation

The maximum theoretical efficiency possible for an engine operating between 100°C and 400°C is 45%. This is because the efficiency of any heat engine is determined by the Carnot efficiency, which is given by (T2 - T1) / T2, where T2 is the temperature at which heat is absorbed and T1 is the temperature at which heat is rejected. In this case, the temperature difference is 300°C (400°C - 100°C), and when we divide this by the higher temperature (400°C), we get 0.75 or 75%. However, since the Carnot efficiency is the maximum possible efficiency, we need to convert this to a percentage by multiplying by 100, resulting in 75%.

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62. A monatomic ideal gas is compressed to one-half its original volume during an adiabatic process. The final pressure of the gas

Explanation

During an adiabatic process, no heat is exchanged between the gas and its surroundings. As the gas is compressed to one-half its original volume, the work done on the gas increases. According to the adiabatic equation, PV^γ = constant, where P is the pressure, V is the volume, and γ is the heat capacity ratio. Since the volume decreases, the pressure must increase to maintain the constant value. Therefore, the final pressure of the gas will increase to more than twice its original value.

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Matt Balanda |BS (Aerospace Engineering) |
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Matt Balanda, a Calvary Chapel Christian School leader with a Bachelor's in Aerospace Engineering and Mathematics, transitioned from Aerospace Engineering to Education with a Master's from California Baptist University. As the High School Vice-Principal and Physics teacher, he nurtures students' love of learning and faith, creating an enriching and transformational educational experience.

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