Page:Reflections on the Motive Power of Heat.djvu/171

Rh last point of this curve must, according to Carnot's fundamental principle, coincide with A, since the piston is, at the end of the cycle of operations,



again in its primitive position, and the pressure of the vapor is the same as it was at the beginning.

18. Let us now suppose that the lengths, ON1, N1 N2 , N2 N3 , and N3 O, represent numerically the volumes of the spaces moved through by the piston during the successive operations. It follows that the mechanical effect obtained during the first operation will be numerically represented by the area AA1 N1 O; that is, the number of superficial units in this area will be equal to the number of "foot-pounds" of work performed by the ascending piston during the first operation. The work performed by the piston during the second operation will be similarly represented by the area