Heat Engines and Second Law of Thermodynamics

Heat engines are devices that convert heat energy into mechanical work. According to the second law of thermodynamics, the efficiency of a heat engine is always less than 100%. This law states that it is impossible to construct a device that operates in a cycle, extracts heat from a single reservoir, and performs an equivalent amount of work.

Heat Transfer between Machines A and B

In the given scenario, machine A takes three times more heat from machine B than the heat transferred by machine B to the source. This means that the efficiency of machine A is higher than that of machine B.

Work Produced by Machine A

Machine A produces five times more work than machine B. As per the second law of thermodynamics, the efficiency of a heat engine is directly proportional to the ratio of work output to heat input. Hence, the efficiency of machine A is higher than that of machine B.

Temperature of Sink

The temperature of the sink is directly proportional to the efficiency of a heat engine. The efficiency of machine A is higher than that of machine B, and hence, the temperature of the sink is two times more for machine A than for machine B.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the given scenario highlights the second law of thermodynamics, which states that the efficiency of a heat engine is always less than 100%. Machine A is more efficient than machine B, as it takes three times more heat and produces five times more work. The temperature of the sink is two times more for machine A than for machine B.