TITLE:
Energy consideration in processes of transition to equilibrium state
AUTHORS:
Sami M. Al-Jaber, Abdel-Rahman M. Abu-Labdeh
KEYWORDS:
Equilibrium State; Non-Equilibrium State; Energy Loss; Transition; Two-Capacitor Problem; Emission of a Photon; Compressed Spring
JOURNAL NAME:
Natural Science,
Vol.3 No.2,
March
1,
2011
ABSTRACT: A calculation of the energy loss due to a transition from non-equilibrium to equilibrium state is given. Three different physical systems are considered in this study: connecting an uncharged capacitor to a charged capacitor, emission of a photon from an excited atom, and releasing an object from a compressed spring. In this study, it is shown that a specific fraction of the total energy stored in a non-equilibrium system should be consumed to reach the equilibrium state.