Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!wuarchive!gem.mps.ohio-state.edu!apple!usc!venera.isi.edu!britt 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