jeffw@midas.STS.TEK.COM (Jeff Winslow) (06/05/89)
Let's try a slight modification of the original problem. Two capacitors of 2F each, one has 5v on it and the other has -5v on it. The total stored energy is 2 * (1/2)*C*V^2, or 50 joules. Now short the two together. What is the final voltage of the two capacitors together? The only way you're going to still have 50 joules stored after the experiment is over is if *both* capacitors are at +5v or *both* capacitors are at -5v. Do you really think one cap can pull the other one all the way up to its voltage? How do the two caps decide which one is going to stay and which one is going to move?? Gosh, I'm getting sadistic. Jeff Winslow