The two-capacitor problem reconsidered

The two-capacitor problem involving connecting a charged capacitor to an uncharged capacitor and accounting for the difference in energy between the initial and equilibrium states, is discussed. Heat due to electrical resistance in the connecting wires is usually cited for the energy loss. In this study, the wires are assumed to be perfectly conducting and without electrical resistance. The circuit then behaves as a loop antenna and radiates energy in the form of electromagnetic radiation (EMR). All loss of energy in the system can be accounted for through EMR considerations. Examples illustrate the rate of decay of the current in the circuit.<
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