Re:Two capacitor paradox
by Matumio on Monday May 25, 2020 @01:37PM
(#23303060)
I don't think the water analogy is a good fit here. For me the revelation was that energy can also be radiated away. When we did basic circuit exercises we never talked about that. Energy was either stored or turned into heat. Not sure how you would explain electromagnetic radiation with water pipes.
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Re:Two capacitor paradox
by LeifCarrotson on Monday May 25, 2020 @01:58PM
(#23303214)
If you actually build this on a PCB with typical ceramic or electrolytic capacitors and a MOSFET or mechanical switch, an insignificant amount of energy will be radiated. Most of the energy does go into heating the capacitors through their internal series resistance.
Radiation could be the sound produced by the rushing water?
A steady current would also produce a rush of water, but I don't think you can get EM radiation with just a steady current.
Well, but maybe... if you equalize two water tanks with a very fat pipe it will swap forth and back, causing the whole assembly, table, and room to rock?
And that is what is called an analogy. Gives a simple and intuitive understanding but is not complete at all.