Electricity Water Analogy

But using water as an analogy offers an easy way to gain a basic understanding.

Electricity water analogy. If we draw an analogy to a waterfall the voltage would represent the height of the waterfall. The flow of water can be analogous to the amperage of current which is the rate of flow of charge. Electricity 101 voltage current and resistance. The water analogy is a fitting introduction.

In this case electric potential is equivalent to pressure. The analogy here is to water pressure. Think a spigot on a house or a water pump. Again this is a common quantity.

In a direct current dc electrical circuit the voltage v in volts is an expression of the available energy per unit charge which drives the electric current i in amperes around a closed circuit. The analogy here is to water flow or more specific the amount of water flowing through a cross sectional area per unit time. Dc circuit water analogy this is an active graphic. Voltage is like the pressure that pushes water through the hose.

The fundamental laws of electricity are mathematically complex. The three most basic components of electricity are voltage current and resistance. You see amp ratings on just about all electric devices. It was used by the physicists at a state s iso independent systems operator that oversaw the reliability of the state s electricity grid to explain how they route electricity to ensure power flows where needed.

Electricity explained intro for a long time folks have been wrestling to come up with a comprehensive analogy for basic electrical terms and functions. This physics video explains how the electric current flows using the analogy of water flow. Amp or ampere is the unit for current. In general electric potential is equivalent to hydraulic head.

Click any part of it for further details. Unlike the water pump in our river analogy however the power plant automatically adjusts to meet the demands of the consumer at the end of the wires. Hydraulic analogy with horizontal water flow voltage current and charge. So here it is.

We think it does a great job of explaining electricity in really straightforward terms with an imaginative use of a water pump as an analogy. The best analogy is usually the stream of water. If the plant can t keep up with the demands we experience brown outs a shortage of electric power just like water users at the end of a river would run short on water if the pump were too slow.