Gary, Ok that makes sense, 1/4 Joules of Energy being dessipated as heat, as to the Paradox that Geoff is talking about, I think he is trying to illustrate the fact that a circuit analysis alone doesn't give one the full picture of what physically is going on in the circuit. As from a purely circuit analysis prespective you find that the Initial energy is 1/2 Joule, and after the switch is closed you find it to be 1/4 Juoles. Intutively, or from experimentally you could probably figure out that there is some energy being desipated as heat. However if one views the circuit from from a more "physical" or "geometric" perspective one can explictly account for the energy, thus satisfying the conservation of energy laws. Thanks, A. Rafiq --------------------------------- The quarter-Joule turns into heat when the switch is vaporized into a cloud of smoke. Whats the paradox? Gary L. Pratt, P.E. Product Manager High-Speed Design Kits Mentor Graphics (503) 685-1177 gary_pratt@xxxxxxxxxx Geoff, Could you ellaborate on this a little more, as I am afraid i can't quite see what happened to the 1/4 Joule of energy. Perhaps if you could do a quick back of the envelope calculation as an example. ----------------- Just a little diversion to show the error in a schematic: An old example often quoted is the problem of connecting two one farad capacitors together by a switch; one is at 1V potential, the other zero. The initial energy is 1/2 CV**2 =3D 0.5 joule. After closing the switch th= ere is charge distribution, and energy =3D 1/8 +1/8 =3D 0.25 joule. Where did = the missing 0.25 joule go? If you did an electrical degree, you'd see the paradox. If you studied high frequencies, you'd know the answer. (I did a Physics degree, then built RF circuits, so for me a capacitor is not a capacitor.) The answer is 1) it's not physically possible to put two capacitors together at one point 2) therefore they are separated by a distance 3) therefore on closing the switch, the discharge current travels a distance 4) the conductors have finite conductivity 5) therefore there is a varying electromagnetic field and energy is dissipated and radiated 6) please don't talk about too much about inductance because it's only an approximation. ------------------- --------------------------------------- Abdulrahman Rafiq Department of Physics University of California Riverside, Ca. 92521 Email: arafi001@xxxxxxx URL: www.geocities.com/arafiq786 -------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------- ---- To unsubscribe from si-list: si-list-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field or to administer your membership from a web page, go to: //www.freelists.org/webpage/si-list For help: si-list-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'help' in the Subject field List archives are viewable at: //www.freelists.org/archives/si-list or at our remote archives: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/si- list/messages Old (prior to June 6, 2001) list archives are viewable at: http://www.qsl.net/wb6tpu ----------------------------------- --------------------------------------- Abdulrahman Rafiq Department of Physics University of California Riverside, Ca. 92521 Email: arafi001@xxxxxxx URL: www.geocities.com/arafiq786 -------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------ To unsubscribe from si-list: si-list-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field or to administer your membership from a web page, go to: //www.freelists.org/webpage/si-list For help: si-list-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'help' in the Subject field List archives are viewable at: //www.freelists.org/archives/si-list or at our remote archives: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/si-list/messages Old (prior to June 6, 2001) list archives are viewable at: http://www.qsl.net/wb6tpu