The collisions I used illustratively ARE ELASTIC collisions: where both momentum and kinetic energy are conserved. Although air is not an ideal gas, where collisons are close to ideally elastic, it is close enough for this discussion.

What I stated in my post was an attempt to illustrate some priciples that place an upper controlling bound (elastic collison is an upper bound) and yet give some explanation (not intended to be exhaustive) on why things are the way they are.

In my comparison of a large woofer and a smaller one, the part that says:

"...two woofers that have identical motor assemblies..."

will allow for the larger coned woofer playing at the same spl output as the smaller woofer to be producing lower distortion due to taxing the suspension less and, as you state, less distortion due to the (identical to the smaller coned woofer) motor operation more linearly.


Paul




[This message has been edited by Paul J. Stiles (edited April 18, 2003).]