Efficiency of Heat Engine Calculator

The Formula

The formula for calculating the efficiency of a heat engine is:

\[\eta = \frac{W}{Q_H} \times 100\%\]

Where:

• η (eta): Efficiency of the heat engine
• W: Work output (useful energy produced)
• Q_H: Heat input (total energy supplied)

Calculation Steps

1. Determine the work output (W) and heat input (Q_H)
2. Divide the work output by the heat input
3. Multiply the result by 100 to express it as a percentage

Example Calculation

Let's calculate the efficiency of a heat engine with an input energy of 1000 J and an output energy of 400 J:

1. Work output (W) = 400 J
2. Heat input (Q_H) = 1000 J
3. Efficiency = (400 / 1000) × 100% = 40%

Visual Representation

This visual shows the efficiency of a heat engine based on our example calculation.