How in the world did I get the right answer? I am scared

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SUMMARY

The discussion revolves around the behavior of capacitors in a parallel circuit, specifically analyzing the final voltage across two capacitors, C1 (3300uF) and C2 (2200uF), after charging and connecting them. The initial voltage V1i is 6.00V for C1, while C2 starts uncharged. The calculated final voltages were V1f = 3.5V and V2f = 3.2V, which closely matched the measured values. The conversation also addressed energy loss during the charge redistribution, concluding that energy is lost primarily due to resistive losses in the wiring and components.

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  • #31
flyingpig said:
But it is also equal to the change in thermal energy yush?

It may not all be thermal (but most of it is). Some will be radiated away as electromagnetic waves, at frequencies that will depend upon the natural frequency of oscillation of the system due to inherent L, R, and C that all real stuff has, as the system 'rings down' into its final equilibrium state. There may be some mechanical strain energy in the capacitor dielectrics. Maybe some flexing of the capacitor materials when the forces between plates changes.

A complete accounting would be tedious and not trivial to accomplish. It's a lot easier to simply state that there is a loss of electrical potential energy in the system that, for all intents and purposes, has been lost to the environment.
 

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