accomplished by causing the working substance (a gas in Carnot's case) to pass through two isothermal changes, the first at a higher and the second at a lower temperature, alternated with two adiabatic[1] changes by which the temperature of the working substance is allowed to fall and then raised again. Each separate step was itself reversible and so the whole cycle was reversible. The great virtue in this is that at the close of the cycle of operations the intrinsic energy of the body is exactly the same that it was at the beginning; and so we make no mistake in saying that the difference between the quantity of heat-energy given out by the body during the isothermal change at the higher temperature and that absorbed by it during the isothermal change at the lower temperature is exactly equal to the amount of external work done by the body in the course of the cycle.
By applying this principle Carnot showed that the production of motive power is possible wherever there is a difference of temperature, the motive power being due to a transfer of heat-energy from the hotter to the colder body, its quantity being independent of the agents employed to develop it, but depending solely upon the temperatures of the bodies between which the transfer occurs, provided the process is reversible.
The most striking fact concerning this memoir is that Carnot used hardly any mathematics at all, but arrived at his conclusions by sheer logical exercise of his mind, expressing the different processes entirely in words and using only such terms as would be clear to one not a scientist. Some of his conclusions are incorrect on account of the erroneous assumption of the materiality of heat, but sometimes he is led to conclusions correct in form, although the deduction is erroneous. Instinct seems to have led him in the right direction.
It may be of interest to go through Carnot's memoir and pick out the various important statements as he himself italicized them. They are in part as follows:
Wherever there is a difference in temperature the production of motive power is possible, and conversely.
The maximum motive power resulting from the use of steam is also the maximum motive power which can be obtained by any other means.
The motive power of heat is independent of the agents employed to develop it; its quantity is determined solely by the temperature of the bodies between- ↑ By isothermal changes are meant changes in volume and pressure involving changes in the heat-energy of the working substance, but unaccompanied by any changes in temperature. By adiabatic changes are meant changes in volume and pressure involving changes in temperature, but unaccompanied by any gain or loss of heat-energy of the working substance.
