Thermodynamic Cycle -- Work done as a function of Heat absorbed

AI Thread Summary
In a thermodynamic cycle, an ideal thermal machine absorbs positive heat Q2 from a hot source, performs positive work W, and transfers negative heat Q1 to a cold source, indicating energy leaving the system. The discussion highlights confusion over the sign convention for Q1, with some arguing it should be positive if defined as heat given to the cold source, while others maintain it is negative as it represents heat leaving the machine. The efficiency of the machine is stated as 20%, leading to the equation e = W / Q2, which simplifies to W = -Q1 / 4 when considering the correct sign convention. The consensus is that the problem statement is misleading, as it does not clearly define the heat transfer directions. Understanding the sign convention is crucial for accurately calculating work done in thermodynamic cycles.
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Homework Statement
Work done as a function of Heat absorbed
Relevant Equations
e = W / Qh
During a thermodynamic cycle, an ideal thermal machine absorbs heat Q2 > 0 from a hot source and uses it to perform Work W > 0, giving a cold source a heat Q1 < 0 with an efficiency of 20% . How much is the work done as a function of Q1 ?I have 2 question regarding this problem: 1) Why is Q1 the heat given to cold source negative? Is it because it leaves the system ?
2) To solve this I used the equation e = W / QH . QH here is Q2 and Qc is Q1 . Also
Q2 = Q1 + W . So substituting this into the first equation it becomes e = W / (Q1 + W ) setting this equation equal to 20 which is the efficiency and simplifying gives the answer W = 1/4 Q1 but it's wrong the right answer has a negative sign. It's - Q1 / 4 . Can anyone explain why ? Thanks
 
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Tesla In Person said:
During a thermodynamic cycle, an ideal thermal machine absorbs heat Q2 > 0 from a hot source and uses it to perform Work W > 0, giving a cold source a heat Q1 < 0 with an efficiency of 20% . How much is the work done as a function of Q1 ?1) Why is Q1 the heat given to cold source negative? Is it because it leaves the system ?

I think the problem statement is incorrect. When a thermal machine takes in positive heat from a hot source and does a positive amount of work, then a positive amount of heat is transferred to the cold source. So, if Q1 is defined as the heat given to the cold source, then Q1 is a positive quantity.

If, however, you were to define Q1 as the heat transferred to the machine from the cold source, then Q1 would be a negative quantity.

The wording of the problem implies that Q1 is the heat transferred to the cold reservoir. So, Q1 should be positive. Thus, it seems to me that the problem statement is contradictory.

Tesla In Person said:
2) To solve this I used the equation e = W / QH . QH here is Q2 and Qc is Q1 . Also
Q2 = Q1 + W .
How are you defining Q1 here? Is it the heat transferred from the machine to the cold source or is it the heat transferred from the cold source to the machine?

Tesla In Person said:
So substituting this into the first equation it becomes e = W / (Q1 + W ) setting this equation equal to 20 which is the efficiency and simplifying gives the answer W = 1/4 Q1 but it's wrong the right answer has a negative sign. It's - Q1 / 4 . Can anyone explain why ? Thanks
Whether the answer should be W = 1/4 Q1 or W = -1/4 Q1 will depend on how Q1 is defined.
 
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I agree with @TSny. The wording in the question is poor/misleading.

Edited - correction.

##Q_2## and ##Q_1## are (probably) meant to be the amounts of heat transferred to and from the machine respectively. The sign-convention being used would then be:
heat entering the machine is positive​
heat leaving the machine is negative​

With this sign-convention, conservation of energy gives:
##Q_2 = W – Q_1##
as used here for example: https://okulaer.files.wordpress.com/2014/08/carnot.jpg
 
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In the first law of thermodynamics, Q is the heat transferred from the surroundings (in this case the reservoirs) to the system (in this case, the working fluid of the engine). So, if heat is transferred from the system to the surroundings, it is negative (in first law parlance). So, for this problem, $$W=Q_1+Q_2$$The efficiency is defined as the work done divided by the heat received from the hot reservoir: $$e=\frac{W}{Q_2}=0.2$$So $$Q_2=5W$$and $$Q_1=-4W$$
 
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