Teaching Electricity by Analogy
Nobody has ever seen an electron Electricity is an abstract concept If we teach a related concrete idea first, then
the abstract idea will be easier to understand
Drama is fun to use because it necessitates student engagement
Drama: Current AnalogyGet three volunteers to each count the class
Oops! – ambiguityNo need to recountDigits come in groups of 20 (normally) – called people
Electrons come in groups of about 6,250,000,000,000,000,000 called Coulombs
Electric Current Analogy using DramaDigits are electrons
People are CoulombsMinutes are secondsCounters are ammeters
A Power Pack is an electron “waver-on”
Series Circuit
A
A A
Series Circuit Analogy - Current
Concrete version of abstract idea
Electrons are not “used up”
A real circuit on a bench will be more understandable
And what’s obvious to the participants….
Current in series is the
same everywhere
Parallel Circuit
A
A
A
Parallel Circuit Analogy – CurrentDrama is a concrete version of an abstract idea
A real circuit on a bench will be more understandable
Again, what’s obvious to the participants…
Current in parallel is shared
A summary of the behaviour of current
Current in parallel is shared and
Current in series is the same
Energy Couriers continuedE
Energy Couriers continuedE, PE
Energy Couriers continuedE, PE, EPE
Energy Couriers continuedE, PE, EPE, EPED
Energy Couriers continuedE, PE, EPE, EPED(or “Voltage” if you must)
Two tongued electron taster
or EPED meteror Voltmeter
Simple Circuit
Simple Circuit
V
V
Simple Circuit
V
Simple Circuit
V
Simple CircuitThe energy given to a circuit by the power pack is ……………….. the energy used up by the light-bulb
Simple CircuitThe energy given to a circuit by the power pack is the same as the energy used up by the light-bulb
Simple CircuitThe energy given to a circuit by the power pack is equal to the energy used up by the light-bulb
Parallel Circuit
Parallel CircuitV
V
V
Parallel Circuit
V
Parallel CircuitV
Parallel Circuit
V
Energy CouriersElectrons carry energyTherefore, so do CoulombsWe can model this with a person (or a “Coulomb”) carrying water in a beaker
The water represents energy. A full beaker is 12 Joules (for THAT Coulomb)
Parallel Circuit Analogy - VoltageConcrete version of abstract idea
A real circuit on a bench will be more understandable
And what is obvious to the participants…
Voltage in parallel is the same
Series Circuit
Series Circuit
V
V
V
Series Circuit
V
Series Circuit
V
Series Circuit
V
Series Circuit Analogy - Voltage
Concrete version of abstract idea
A real circuit on a bench will be more understandable
Again, what is obvious to the participants
Voltage in series is shared
Series & Parallel: Voltage & Current Summary Version 1
Series Parallel
Series & Parallel: Voltage & Current Summary Version 1
Series Parallel
Voltage
Current
Series & Parallel: Voltage & Current Summary Version 1
Series Parallel
Voltage
Current Same
Series & Parallel: Voltage & Current Summary Version 1
Series Parallel
Voltage Same
Current Same
Series & Parallel: Voltage & Current Summary Version 1
Series Parallel
Voltage Shared Same
Current Same
Series & Parallel: Voltage & Current Summary Version 1
Series Parallel
Voltage Shared Same
Current Same Shared
Series & Parallel: Voltage & Current Summary Version 2
Parallel Series
Series & Parallel: Voltage & Current Summary Version 2
Parallel Series
Voltage
Current
Series & Parallel: Voltage & Current Summary Version 2
Parallel Series
Voltage
Current Same
Series & Parallel: Voltage & Current Summary Version 2
Parallel Series
Voltage Same
Current Same
Series & Parallel: Voltage & Current Summary Version 2
Parallel Series
Voltage Same Shared
Current Shared Same
Series & Parallel: Voltage & Current Summary Version 3
Series
Parallel
Series & Parallel: Voltage & Current Summary Version 3
Series This will be left
Parallel
Series & Parallel: Voltage & Current Summary Version 3
Series This will be left
for you to fill in.
Parallel
Series & Parallel: Voltage & Current Summary Version 3
Series This will be left
for you to fill in.
Parallel You will find the
Series & Parallel: Voltage & Current Summary Version 3
Series This will be left
for you to fill in.
Parallel You will find the
pattern works.
