Exam-style question
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What is a primary reason why no heat engine is perfectly efficient?.
- A.Energy is lost as waste heat
- B.All energy is converted to work
- C.Heat engines operate at constant temperature
- D.Friction in the engine components
Model answer
What a good answer should say
- Energy is lost as waste heat
Explanation
Why this works
The Second Law of Thermodynamics states that energy cannot be completely converted into work, as some energy is always lost as waste heat during the operation of a heat engine.
Common mistake
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