Circuit/Mechanical oscillator analogy

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the analogy between an RLC circuit and a damped harmonic oscillator, specifically examining the effects of removing the inductor from the circuit. The analysis concludes that without the inductor, the system, consisting solely of a charged capacitor and a resistor, will not oscillate but will instead discharge exponentially to zero. This is due to the absence of energy interchange between magnetic and electric fields, which is critical for oscillation in RLC circuits.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of RLC circuit components (Resistor, Inductor, Capacitor)
  • Knowledge of damped harmonic oscillators
  • Familiarity with exponential decay in electrical circuits
  • Basic principles of energy storage in electric and magnetic fields
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the mathematical modeling of RLC circuits using differential equations
  • Explore the concept of damping in mechanical and electrical systems
  • Learn about energy transfer mechanisms in RLC circuits
  • Investigate the behavior of capacitors in RC circuits with varying resistance
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Students and professionals in electrical engineering, physics enthusiasts, and anyone interested in the dynamics of oscillatory systems and circuit analysis.

jdstokes
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Homework Statement



I've been pondering the analogy between an RLC circuit and a damped harmonic oscillator.

The inductor serves the role of the inertia, leading a finite charging frequency.

What happens if we remove the inductor, so that the system consists just of a charged capacitor, with each plate connected by a wire of resistance R?

The Attempt at a Solution



The mathematics suggests that the system will undergo oscillations with an effectively infinite frequency and that the amplitude will instantly decay to zero.

This doesn't seem to make sense. What would really happen?
 
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For anyone interested, my initial guess is rubbish: with no inductor, there is no interchange between energy stored by the magnetic and electric fields, so the charged capacitor simply discharges exponentially to zero.
 

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