PHY 365: Messina (Fall 2015)

From acoustics to zoology, this authoritative encyclopedia provides need-to-know information in the major disciplines of science and technology. All entries are commissioned from leading authorities in their fields; each is technically reviewed, signed, edited, illustrated, and produced to the highest standards for ease of access and comprehension. A dedicated index volume provides easy access to information through subject and author indexes and study and topical guides.

Start with the Index in Volume 4 to locate articles on your topic. The Macmillan Encyclopedia of Physics offers readers explanations for the phenomena, concepts, and laws that form the foundation of every other branch of science from astronomy to zoology. The text is aimed especially at students who may enjoy articles on such topics as why water boils, Albert Einstein, black holes, buoyancy, clouds, computers, heat, magnetism, and space.

Heat engines that use gases as the working fluid in a closed system model were discussed in this book. Otto cycle, Diesel, Miller, and Dual cycle are internal combustion engines. Stirling cycle is an external combustion engine. The Otto cycle is a spark-ignition reciprocating engine made of an isentropic compression process, a constant volume combustion process, an isentropic expansion process, and a constant volume cooling process. The thermal efficiency of the Otto cycle depends on its compression ratio. The compression ratio is defined as r=Vmax/Vmin. The Otto cycle efficiency is limited by the compression ratio because of the engine knock problem. The Diesel cycle is a compression-ignition reciprocating engine made of an isentropic compression process, a constant pressure combustion process, an isentropic expansion process, and a constant volume cooling process. The thermal efficiency of the Otto cycle depends on its compression ratio and cut-off ratio. The compression ratio is defined as r=Vmax/Vmin. The cut-off ratio is defined as rcutoff=Vcombustion off/Vmin. The Dual cycle involves two heat addition processes, one at constant volume and one at constant pressure. It behaves more like an actual cycle than either Otto or Diesel cycle. The Lenoir cycle was the first commercially successful internal combustion engine. The Stirling cycle and Wicks cycle are attempt to achieve the Carnot efficiency. The Miller cycle uses variable valve timing for compression ratio control to improve the performance of internal combustion engines.