Where Exploration Meets Excellence
Advertisement

Optimizing Heat Dissipation via Cauchy-Schwarz Inequality

Advertisement

Problem: Optimizing Heat Dissipation via Cauchy-Schwarz Inequality

In an electrical circuit, a total constant current ##I## is split between two parallel resistors ##R_1## and ##R_2##, such that ##I_1 + I_2 = I##. The total rate of heat generation in the parallel network is given by the power dissipation formula:

###H = I_1^2 R_1 + I_2^2 R_2###

Using the Cauchy-Schwarz inequality, determine the minimum value of ##H## in terms of ##I##, ##R_1##, and ##R_2##. Furthermore, identify the relationship between the currents ##I_1## and ##I_2## when this minimum dissipation is achieved.

Worked Solution & Step-by-Step Explanation

To solve this optimization problem, we utilize the Cauchy-Schwarz inequality, which provides a powerful tool for establishing lower bounds on sums of squares.

The Cauchy-Schwarz inequality states that for any two sets of real numbers ##(a_1, a_2)## and ##(b_1, b_2)##:

###(a_1^2 + a_2^2)(b_1^2 + b_2^2) \ge (a_1 b_1 + a_2 b_2)^2###

Equality holds if and only if the sequences are proportional, i.e., ##\dfrac{a_1}{b_1} = \dfrac{a_2}{b_2}##.

Step 1: Mapping the variables

To apply the inequality to our heat dissipation expression ##H = I_1^2 R_1 + I_2^2 R_2##, we must map our physical terms to the mathematical variables ##a_i## and ##b_i##. We define:

- ##a_1 = I_1 \sqrt{R_1}##

- ##a_2 = I_2 \sqrt{R_2}##

Now, we choose ##b_1## and ##b_2## such that the linear combination ##a_1 b_1 + a_2 b_2## yields the constraint ##I_1 + I_2 = I##. We choose:

- ##b_1 = \dfrac{1}{\sqrt{R_1}}##

- ##b_2 = \dfrac{1}{\sqrt{R_2}}##

Step 2: Constructing the components

We compute the squares and products required by the inequality:

1. The sum of squares of the first set:

###a_1^2 + a_2^2 = (I_1 \sqrt{R_1})^2 + (I_2 \sqrt{R_2})^2 = I_1^2 R_1 + I_2^2 R_2 = H###

2. The sum of squares of the second set:

###b_1^2 + b_2^2 = \left(\dfrac{1}{\sqrt{R_1}}\right)^2 + \left(\dfrac{1}{\sqrt{R_2}}\right)^2 = \dfrac{1}{R_1} + \dfrac{1}{R_2} = \dfrac{R_1 + R_2}{R_1 R_2}###

3. The product sum:

###a_1 b_1 + a_2 b_2 = \left(I_1 \sqrt{R_1}\right) \left(\dfrac{1}{\sqrt{R_1}}\right) + \left(I_2 \sqrt{R_2}\right) \left(\dfrac{1}{\sqrt{R_2}}\right) = I_1 + I_2 = I###

Step 3: Applying the inequality

Substituting these components into the inequality ##(a_1^2 + a_2^2)(b_1^2 + b_2^2) \ge (a_1 b_1 + a_2 b_2)^2##:

###(H) \left(\dfrac{R_1 + R_2}{R_1 R_2}\right) \ge I^2###

Solving for ##H##, we obtain the lower bound:

###H \ge \dfrac{I^2 R_1 R_2}{R_1 + R_2}###

Since the equivalent resistance of two resistors in parallel is ##R_p = \dfrac{R_1 R_2}{R_1 + R_2}##, we can write:

###H_{\text{min}} = I^2 R_p###

Step 4: Finding the condition for minimum dissipation

Equality occurs when ##\dfrac{a_1}{b_1} = \dfrac{a_2}{b_2}##. Substituting our definitions:

###\dfrac{I_1 \sqrt{R_1}}{\left(\dfrac{1}{\sqrt{R_1}}\right)} = \dfrac{I_2 \sqrt{R_2}}{\left(\dfrac{1}{\sqrt{R_2}}\right)}###

Simplifying this expression:

###I_1 R_1 = I_2 R_2###

This result is precisely the condition for parallel circuits where the voltage drop across both resistors must be equal (##V = I_1 R_1 = I_2 R_2##). Thus, physical systems naturally distribute current to satisfy the condition that minimizes energy dissipation.

Quantity Expression

:--- :---

Minimum Power ##H_{\text{min}} = I^2 R_p##

Parallel Resistance ##R_p = \dfrac{R_1 R_2}{R_1 + R_2}##

Current Condition ##I_1 R_1 = I_2 R_2##

RESOURCES

Comments

What do you think?

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *