Re: Capacitor problem

[John Mallinckrodt <ajmallinckro@CSUPomona.Edu>]

On Sat, 29 Mar 1997, Donald E. Simanek wrote:

> 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.

Well, not quite.  After all there would be gravitational radiation.  ;-)

John
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