Water Pipe Analogy Electricity

Ohm s law also makes intuitive sense if you apply it to the water and pipe analogy.

Water pipe analogy electricity. As we know diode characteristic is non linear characteristic. The narrow pipe resists the flow of water through it even though the water is at the same pressure as the tank with the wider pipe. An electric current is a flow of electrons through a conductor like a copper wire. In this case diode is acting as ideal.

Ok lets see how semiconductors can be converted to water pipe system elements. Current and resistance a common analogy is a water tank. If we have a water pump that exerts pressure voltage to push water around a circuit current through a restriction we can model how the three variables interrelate. Water flowing through pipes is pretty good mechanical system that is a lot like an electrical circuit.

A water in pipes analogy electric current is the continuous flow of electrons through a conducting material like a copper wire. Since we can t see electrons it would be nice to have a model or an analogy of electric circuits to help us understand circuits better. The electronic hydraulic analogy derisively referred to as the drain pipe theory by oliver lodge is the most widely used analogy for electron fluid in a metal conductor since electric current is invisible and the processes in play in electronics are often difficult to demonstrate the various electronic components are represented by hydraulic equivalents. In this analogy charge is represented by the water amount voltage is represented by the water pressure.

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. Diode is imagined as valve allowing current flow to one direction. The function of a ground wire in an electric circuit is in many ways analogous to the reservoir attached to the water circuit. Electrons are invisible so to understand the basics of how circuits work it helps to examine a mechanical system that behaves in many ways similar to the electric circuit.

An analogy for ohm s law.