[definition needed] A particular occurrence of a dissipative process cannot be described by a single individual Hamiltonian formalism.
– François Roddier[3] The term is also applied to the loss of energy due to generation of unwanted heat in electric and electronic circuits.
When the pure advection equation, which is free of dissipation, is solved by a numerical approximation method, the energy of the initial wave may be reduced in a way analogous to a diffusional process.
In some cases, "artificial dissipation" is intentionally added to improve the numerical stability characteristics of the solution.
Very often, these devices look like small waterfalls or cascades, where water flows vertically or over riprap to lose some of its kinetic energy.
Important examples of irreversible processes are: Waves or oscillations, lose energy over time, typically from friction or turbulence.