Heat Engines

Definition

Heat engines are devices that convert thermal energy into mechanical work, typically by allowing heat to flow from a high-temperature region to a low-temperature region.

Analogy

Think of a heat engine as a power generator fueled by temperature differences. Just like how water flowing downhill can turn a turbine and generate electricity, heat engines utilize the flow of thermal energy to produce mechanical work.

Related terms

Heat Pumps: While heat engines convert thermal energy into useful work, heat pumps transfer thermal energy against its natural flow for heating or cooling purposes.

Carnot Cycle: The Carnot cycle is an idealized thermodynamic cycle that describes the most efficient operation of a heat engine between two temperature reservoirs.

Efficiency: Efficiency measures how effectively a heat engine converts thermal energy into useful work. It is calculated as the ratio of output work to input heat.