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← ScienceWhich risk increases when a Carnot heat engine operates near theoretical limits?
A)Increased vibrational energy loss
B)Reduced irreversibility of processes
C)Elevated sensitivity to minor disturbances✓
D)Decreased heat transfer coefficient
💡 Explanation
When approaching Carnot’s theoretical maximum efficiency, infinitesimal changes strongly affect the cycle, initiating sensitive disturbances; this is because efficiency depends critically specific state variables, therefore minor fluctuations impede optimal operation, rather than reduced irreversibility or decreased heat transfer.
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