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From: britt@venera.isi.edu (Benjamin Britt)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Re: A violation of the law of conservation of energy
Keywords: paradox
Message-ID: <9932@venera.isi.edu>
Date: 28 Sep 89 23:12:06 GMT
References: <318@massey.ac.nz>
Reply-To: britt@venera.isi.edu.UUCP (Benjamin Britt)
Organization: Information Sciences Institute, Univ. of So. California
Lines: 32

In article <318@massey.ac.nz> ARaman@massey.ac.nz (A.V. Raman) writes:
>This problem has puzzled me for 2 years
>Can someone please help me out:
>
>                       ________________
>                      |                |
>                   V ---             ----- C
>                  ---------          -----
>                      |                |
>                       -----RRRRR------
>
>Consider the RC circuit above.
>
>The aim is to determine an equation [E] for the energy expended in the resistor
>R at t = infinity.

[derivation of E]

>which implies E = C * square(V) / 2
>which is perfectly logical considering the fact that E = total energy -
>energy stored in the capacitor.
>
>But note that the energy expended in R does not depend on R itself.


Uh-oh.  E = C*V*V/2 even if R = infinity?  Guess I'd better be
careful when I prowl through my junkbox of old caps.  :)  :) :)


-- 
Benjamin Britt
USC/Information Sciences Institute