A heat engine operates between a hot reservoir at 400 K and a cold reservoir at 300 K. What is its maximum theoretical (Carnot) efficiency?
Explanation
📌 Carnot efficiency = 1 − T_cold/T_hot = 1 − 300/400 = 0.25 = 25%. This is the theoretical maximum; real engines fall well short. Distractor B is the ratio T_c/T_h (inverted); C is 1 − T_h/T_c (would give negative — sign error); D violates the second law (no engine can exceed 100%, and reaching 100% would require T_cold = 0 K).