Question

There are four distinct events that occur in the Carnot cycle. Name the events and describe each one.

Answer 1

Answer and Explanation:

There four events or stages of reversible nature in a Carnot cycle are:

1. Isothermal expansion of gas

2. Adiabatic expansion

3. Isothermal compression of gas

4.Adiabatic compression of gas

All these 4 processes are reversible processes.

1. A reversible Isothermal expansion of gas takes place in Carnot cycle where an ideal gas  absorbs or intake certain quantity of heat from a heat reservoir or source at an elevated temperature which results in the expansion of gas and work is done on the  surroundings.

2. A reversible expansion of gas adiabatically takes place in Carnot cycle in an environment with thermal insulation where the gas expand and work is done on the surrounding which results in the lowering of the temperature of the system.

3. A reversible compression of gas  isothermally takes place such that the work is done on the system by the surrounding resulting in heat loss.

4. A reversible compression of gas adiabatically, takes place in an environment with thermal insulation and the work is done continuously on the system by the surroundings resulting in the rise in temperature.