When a gas is compressed isothermally, we can say that:

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: When a gas is compressed isothermally, the surroundings perform work on the gas. In this process, since the temperature remains constant (isothermal), the internal energy of the gas does not change. Therefore, the correct answer is that the surroundings perform work on the gas, and its internal energy decreases. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because they incorrectly describe the direction of work and the change in internal energy during an isothermal compression.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct formula for efficiency (η) of a heat engine is η = Wnet / Qh. Efficiency is defined as the ratio of the net work done by the engine (Wnet) to the heat input from the hot reservoir (Qh). This formula shows how effectively the engine converts heat into useful work, making choice A the correct answer. Choices B, C, and D present incorrect relationships between efficiency, net work done, and heat input, leading to their incorrectness.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: In a power plant system, the components directly involved in the energy conversion process are considered part of the system. The fuel being burned provides the heat source, the working fluid transfers this heat energy, and the turbine converts it into mechanical energy to generate electricity. The surrounding air, while it may interact with the system, is not a component that directly participates in the energy conversion process within the power plant system. Therefore, the correct answer is D - The surrounding air. Choices A, B, and C are essential components of a power plant system as they play direct roles in the energy conversion process, unlike the surrounding air.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: In an electrically neutral atom, the number of electrons is equal to the number of protons. Electrons carry a negative charge, protons carry a positive charge, and neutrons are neutral. Since the atom is electrically neutral, the positive charge of the protons must balance the negative charge of the electrons, making the numbers of electrons and protons equal. Choice B is incorrect because protons are not equal to neutrons in an atom. Choice C is incorrect because neutrons are not always greater than protons, and choice D is incorrect because electrons are not always less than protons in an atom.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Refraction is the phenomenon by which light bends as it passes through a prism or any other medium boundary. When light transitions from one medium to another, such as air to glass in the case of a prism, it changes speed and direction due to the change in the medium's refractive index. This change in speed causes the light to bend. Reflection, on the other hand, is the bouncing back of light when it hits a surface. Diffraction refers to the bending of light around obstacles or through narrow openings. Electrical conduction involves the movement of electrically charged particles through a conductor, which is unrelated to the bending of light.