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One can, at this point mention the problem of the water tanks. Two
identical cylindrical water tanks are connected at the bottom by a pipe
with a valve which is closed. One is filled with water to height h, the
other is empty. The valve is opened and water flows. Finally the tanks
reach equilibrium with each being filled to height h/2.
But the potential energy of the water in the tanks is only half that of
the potential energy in the one initially filled tank. Where did the
energy go?
Not radiation here. Energy is simply dissipated by heating the water and
tanks, due to viscousity of the water. If there were zero friction and
viscosity, one assumes the level in the water levels would oscillate up
and down forever.