Question

An engineer designing a new type of engine needs a liquid that can be heated and cooled quickly with as little exchange of energy as possible. Which property should the engineer primarily look for in the liquid?
A.
low thermal conductivity
B.
low specific heat capacity
C.
high reactivity
D.
high internal energy
E.
high density

Answer 1

Here we have to choose the property of the liquid, among the given, which the engineer should primary look to use as the fluid of the engine.

The engineer should primarily looked the liquid which have B. low specific heat capacity.

The Specific heat capacity of a substance is equivalent to the heat needed to increase 1⁰ temperature of the unit mass of the substance. Now if the specific heat capacity of the liquid is low then it will need very little amount of energy to transfer the heat.

A. The low thermal conductivity will cause more time to exchange the energy. Which is not required for the engine.

C. There is no relation between the reactivity of the liquid with the use of the same in the engine.

D. The internal energy will also not affect the rate of the cooling or heating of the liquid.

E. The high density also cannot affect the low rate of exchange energy.