An inventor wishes to build an engiine that runs off of the ambient heat of the

Question

An inventor wishes to build an engiine that runs off of the ambient heat of the atmosphere and produces energy. An ideal monatomic gas is contained in a cylinder. First, the gas is adiabatically (or quickly) expanded by increasing the volume by a factor of 4, which decreases the temperature. Then the gas is allowed to come to hermal equilibrium with the environment, absorbing heat energy. Finally, the gas is compressed back to the original state isothermally (slowly). Will this engine produce energy? Argue your assertion. If you dont think this would produce useful work, what changes in the cycle would have to be made to produce work?

Explanation / Answer

when the gas expanded adiabatically, it does work. when the gas is compressed isothermally, now the work done on the gas produces energy. To produce the work we shoud allow the gas to expand freely in either isothermal or adiabatic process (Volume should increase).

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