A Novel Approach to the Teaching of Thermodynamic Cycles and the Laws of Thermodynamics

Abstract

This paper outlines a simple particle mechanics model in which a single particle represents the thermodynamic fluid (gas) in a heat engine (exemplified by a piston engine). By mechanics based reasoning the model demonstrates the connection between the Carnot efficiency limitation of heat engines and the Kelvin-Planck statement of Second Law requiring only the truth of the Clausius statement.