Re: Poynting vector energy transport

[Leigh Palmer <palmer@SFU.CA>]

At 2:15 PM -0800 2/3/00, Chuck Britton wrote:
> At 4:51 PM -0800 2/2/00, Leigh Palmer wrote:
> > I love the Poynting vector energy transport picture. It is
> > perfectly clear in that representation that when one hooks
> > a battery across a resistor energy flows into the resistor
> > from the space outside! People who believe in material
> > energy will confidently say that the energy "comes from"
> > the battery.
>
> And when the Poynting vector is calculated for the battery, it
> clearly shows that the energy IS 'flowing' from the battery!!!

That is quite true. Do you you accept that picture of the
locality of the energy flow? If you do, I have a follow up.

> > Nothing can illustrate the unreality of energy
> > more dramatically than this example.
> >
> > Leigh
>
> I don't follow the 'unreality' bit.
>
> Just because it 'goes' thru empty space doesn't mean it isn't real.

OK; the believer would say it gets there through the wires.

> Just like the 'energy flow' from the sun.

Not one bit like it.

Leigh