Discussion on “outline of theory of impulse currents” (Steinmetz), New York, Jan. 14, 1916. (see proceedings for January, 1916)

Charles P. Steinmetz: “Outline of Theory of Impulse Currents” is a continuation of the paper on the general equation of the electric circuit, read eight years ago. In the previous paper it was found that the general differential equation, which applies to every electric circuit or section of circuit having constant values of r, L, g, and C, can be integrated by an expression consisting of four terms, two main waves and their two return waves. One of the waves dies out at a greater, the other at a slower rate than corresponds to the energy dissipation in the circuit, and therefore the former transfers energy to the latter, thus representing the energy transfer along the circuit, as occurring in traveling waves, a-c. transmission etc. These two waves coincide, and the energy transfer coefficient becomes zero, in the stationary oscillation of a uniform circuit; they do not coincide, however, in the stationary oscillation of a compound circuit, but energy transfer occurs from sections of lower energy dissipation, to sections of higher energy dissipation.