Xref: utzoo sci.electronics:7966 sci.physics:9816
Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!ginosko!gem.mps.ohio-state.edu!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!ucsd!ogccse!orstcs!guille!liud
From: liud@guille.ece.orst.edu (Dongtai Liu)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics,sci.physics
Subject: Re: A violation of the law of conservation of energy
Keywords: paradox
Message-ID: <12649@orstcs.CS.ORST.EDU>
Date: 27 Sep 89 17:25:19 GMT
References: <318@massey.ac.nz>
Sender: usenet@orstcs.CS.ORST.EDU
Reply-To: liud@guille.ECE.ORST.EDU (Dongtai Liu)
Organization: Oregon State University, E&CE, Corvallis
Lines: 7

I once had a similar example that puzzled me for some time. My circuit consistedof two capacitors and a switch. One capacitor has initial voltage and the other has no. the swith is then closed and the voltage on both capacitors becomes 1/2 of the initial voltage on the first capacitor (remember, v is proportioanl to q/c, since q=cont, c=twice as much, v->1/2 as much). 

conservation law seems to be violated again, since E=0.5*C*V*V, there is only 
50% energy left in this simple system.

I know the answer; but I would like to give you a clue first. When you close theswitch (or let R=0 in your circuit and connect the battery), wouldn't you hear
a click from a radio nearby?r