[Amps] AC circuit analysis

[RFlabnotes at aol.com]

Dave:
       Your assumption that we all assume steady-state,sinusoidal variables 
in AC circuits is simply not true, and I don't see why you bothered to launch 
the tirade about it. Those of us who do circuit analysis seriously are fully 
aware of methods for dealing with transient and non-linear elements. When the 
circuit conditions simplify to a steady state, we welcome and take advantage 
of that. But your implication that we don't know any better is denigrating.

       Also, good engineers clearly understand the dividing line between 
lumped and distributed circuits, and if they are really on top of it, they 
know how to estimate the ranges of validity oe each. Your language seems to 
imply that you are the only one who knows these things, and that you must 
warn the rest of us lest we inadverdantly apply (naively) Ohm's law where EM 
field analysis is required.

       These issues ALL come under the scope of AC circuit analysis, which 
serves us well up into the lower VHF region. For the benefit of the less 
knowledgable (about advanced circuit theory) the boundary between lumped 
circuit theory and field theory is in the frequency region where the physical 
dimensions of circuit elements become a significant fraction of a wavelength. 
Above this frequency range, you just can't get anywhere without solving 
Maxwell's eqs.

73
Eric von Valtier K8LV