1) “The Carnot cycle is the most efficient cycle operating between two specified temperature limits.” A) Who is the most Carnot-like person you know (real or fictional)? Why? B) What is the most efficient (Carnot-like) process in your life? Why?
2) For Chapter homework, we analyzed how a power plant is similar to the human body. Let’s extend that metaphor and analyze how to make your body a more efficient power plant. A) Discuss “food as fuel” in relation to metabolism and digestion efficiency from a “boiler” and “condenser” point-of-view. B) Discuss “portion size” of meals in relation to the “boiler” and “turbine” efficiency. Think of it in relation to a campfire and using kindling versus using one BIG log to start a fire… as well as keeping it burning.
3) Based on Chapter 8’s HW assignment on Entropy, did you change any part of your life (or ask another person to change) to make it more efficient based on your new understanding of Entropy? Why or why not? How did you influence the change and what was the friction you encountered (even if it was your own personal inertia)?
4) “When two fluid layers move relative to each other, a friction force develops between them and the slower layer tries to slow down the faster layer. This internal resistance to flow is quantified by the fluid property, Viscosity…”
A) How is this appropriate to the people in your life and tenuous relationships with higher levels of potential conflict? Discuss by using fluids of different viscosities and densities as metaphors for people.
B) Discuss how the “no slip condition” in Section 10-1 applies to this metaphor.
5) A) Discuss the rotational stability of Lawrence Tech’s “concrete canoe” in relation to tipping it over when you stand up and move around too much. Use the terms “center of gravity” and “center of buoyancy” appropriately in your answer. B) Also mention the importance of it being bottom-heavy. (p.s. – you might want to take a walk down the hallway of the engineering building’s laboratory wing prior to answering this question in order to see how cross-sections of how the concrete Canoe is constructed)