Nate Core Practice Test 2025 – Comprehensive Exam Prep

The vapor-compression refrigeration cycle primarily functions by utilizing a refrigerant, which absorbs heat when it evaporates at low pressure and temperature and releases heat when it condenses at high pressure and temperature. This process effectively moves heat from one location to another, usually from a cooler space to a warmer one, enabling cooling in refrigerators and air conditioning units.

The cycle involves four main stages: compression, condensation, expansion, and evaporation. During compression, the refrigerant gas is compressed, raising its pressure and temperature. In the condensation phase, the hot gas then releases heat to the surroundings and becomes a liquid. In the expansion stage, the refrigerant's pressure decreases, allowing it to evaporate, which absorbs heat from the area being cooled. Finally, this low-pressure gas returns to the compressor, and the cycle repeats.

This cycle is the foundation of many cooling systems, illustrating how heat transfer is essential for refrigeration and air conditioning applications, thereby validating the correct answer’s focus on heat absorption and release through refrigerant actions.