The Problem with Oversimplified Explanations in Electronics Education

 

Back in the 1970s, when I was young, learning electronics required genuine dedication. There were no YouTube tutorials, no social media "experts," and no oversimplified analogies disguised as science.

 

If you wanted to study electronics properly, you either enrolled in a formal education program or spent countless hours at the library, reading books written by real engineers and educators, books that had undergone rigorous technical review rather than simply being "posted" online.

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At no point during my formal education did an instructor ever compare electricity to water flowing through pipes.

 

Why not?

 

Because my teachers were qualified electrical engineers, teaching actual electrical theory, not mechanical engineering, or plumbing concepts.

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The Rise of Internet-Based Education

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Today, the internet provides widespread access to information, but not all sources offer scientifically accurate explanations. Many online educators rely on outdated analogies, particularly the plumbing comparison, which likens:

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• Voltage to water pressure

• Current to flow rate

• Resistance to pipe size restrictions

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This analogy originates from the 18th century, when scientists like Benjamin Franklin proposed fluid-based theories of electricity. While such comparisons once helped conceptualize unseen phenomena, our modern understanding of electricity has significantly advanced.

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Electricity doesn’t behave like water, and conductors are not pipes. Electrical current involves electron movement, governed by electromagnetic fields, concepts that have no direct counterpart in fluid dynamics.

 

The Implications of Oversimplification

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Oversimplified explanations, especially inaccurate analogies, can create misconceptions that hinder deeper learning. Utilizing false analogies is not useful as introductory tools, relying on flawed comparisons makes it harder to grasp real electrical theory.

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So why do people keep using plumbing analogies to teach electricity? It typically comes down to three possibilities:

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1. They come from a different field, such as plumbing, and attempt to teach electrical concepts using familiar analogies from their expertise.

2. They lack a deep understanding of electrical principles and rely on simple comparisons.

3. They understand the science but believe it must be oversimplified for others, unintentionally distorting fundamental concepts.

 

The Importance of Teaching Accurate Fundamentals

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As the famous saying, often attributed to Albert Einstein—goes:  "If you can't explain it to a six-year-old, you don't understand it yourself."

 

However, clarity should never come at the expense of accuracy. In my experience:

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Without accurate fundamentals, learning becomes a series of missteps leading nowhere. A solid grasp of the basics is essential; without it, progress in any field is unattainable. —Michael Pazoga

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Comparing electricity to water, and wires to pipes makes it sound simple, but simple isn’t always correct, and in this case, it’s completely and dangerously wrong.

 

Why the Water Analogy Fails

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Let’s get one thing clear: Electricity is not in any way like water and you're plumbing system is not like electrical wires. Electricity doesn’t behave like water. It doesn’t act or move like water. And treating it like water doesn’t make it easier to understand, it makes it completely misunderstood.

 

Here’s why the comparison makes no sense:

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1. Electrons Don’t Flow Like Water

In water pipes, molecules of water flow in a steady stream. You can see it, measure it, and trace its movement directly.

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If you disconnect and make a break in a water pipe, water will continue to flow out of the disconnected pipe due to pressure. However, if you disconnect a wire from an electrical circuit, the current will immediately stop flowing because the circuit becomes open, halting the flow of electrons.

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In electrical conductors, electrons don't shoot through the wire like water in a hose. In fact, their drift speed is incredibly slow, typically on the order of millimeters per second. The reason a light turns on instantly is that an electromagnetic wave propagates through the wire at nearly the speed of light, activating the circuit almost immediately.

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So, no, electricity isn't a stream of particles like water in motion. It's a field-driven wave phenomenon, with electrons barely nudging along.

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2. The hydraulic analogy, comparing electricity to water flow, is a misleading oversimplification that fails to capture the complexities of electrical phenomena. If electricity truly behaved like water, the mathematical models describing both systems would align. However, the equations governing fluid mechanics, such as the Navier–Stokes equations and Bernoulli's principle, differ fundamentally from those in electrical theory, like Maxwell's equations and Ohm's law. This disparity underscores the inaccuracy of equating electric current with water flow.

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3. Voltage Is Not Pressure

 

Water pressure is a mechanical force resulting from the weight or motion of water. It can be increased by adding more water to a confined space or elevating it to gain gravitational potential. In such systems, increasing the volume of water in a reservoir proportionally increases the water pressure.

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Voltage, however, is not a mechanical force. It is the electric potential difference between two points, representing the potential energy per unit charge. Voltage is a measure of the potential energy available to move electrons through a conductor, not a force exerted by a fluid.

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For instance, a high-voltage source does not necessarily imply a large amount of available charge. Electrostatic discharges can involve very high voltages but minuscule amounts of charge, posing little threat to human safety. Conversely, a low-voltage car battery can deliver substantial current due to its significant charge capacity, capable of causing harm or starting a car engine.

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Therefore, equating voltage to water pressure is a misleading oversimplification. While both concepts involve potential differences, their underlying principles and behaviors are completely fundamentally different.

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• Voltage is the electric potential difference between two points in a circuit. It represents the potential energy per unit charge available to move electrons through a conductor. Voltage is a measure of energy per unit charge and is influenced by factors such as electric fields and charge separation.

• Water pressure, on the other hand, is a mechanical force exerted by fluids in a confined space. It results from the weight of the fluid above a point or from external forces applied to the fluid. Water pressure is governed by principles of fluid mechanics, such as Pascal's law and Bernoulli's principle.

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4. Resistance Isn’t a Restriction

 

In plumbing, a narrow pipe slows down the water flow.

 

In electricity, resistance isn’t only about size, it’s about atomic structure. Electrons encounter resistance when they interact with the atoms in a conductor, generating heat in the process.

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Explain this behavior with plumbing: a resistor that lets AC through more easily at high frequency. Or a capacitor that blocks DC but allows AC to pass. 

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5. There’s No Plumbing Equivalent to Fields

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Electricity is governed by electromagnetic fields, not just moving charge. Power in an AC circuit doesn’t even travel inside the wire, it travels in the space around the outside of wire, guided by the fields.

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Water doesn't do that. It doesn’t have directional field energy propagating in space. There is no analogy in plumbing for transmission lines, capacitive coupling, inductive reactance, impedance matching, or RF propagation.

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6. Safety Misconceptions Can Kill

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The most dangerous part of the water analogy is false confidence. When someone believes they "understand electricity" because they understand plumbing, they’re more likely to make poor, unsafe decisions.​

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Electricity doesn’t forgive mistakes. You can’t guess your way through it based on plumbing metaphors.

 

Everyone Has Heard of the Old Saying, "A Little Knowledge Is a Dangerous Thing"

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In the 1970s, hobbyists were building Heathkit state of the art color TVs. They understood circuits. They read schematics, not infographics.

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Today, people are told “electricity is just like plumbing,” and we’re shocked when those same people damage components, property, or get hurt.

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You can’t teach electronics like this. This approach to teaching electronics is not fair, or respectful to the learner, misleading, hazardous, and prioritizes simplicity over truth.

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If someone cannot accurately explain the operation of a simple three-component electrical circuit—comprising a power source, copper wire, and a light bulb, it raises questions about their ability to elucidate more complex technologies. A solid understanding of basic electrical behavior is crucial before exploring advanced concepts such as:

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• Cell phones enabling real-time, face-to-face conversations across the globe. These devices rely on intricate systems involving signal processing, wireless communication protocols, and network infrastructures.

• Microprocessors containing billions of transistors performing millions of calculations per second. The design and function of these components are grounded in semiconductor physics and digital logic.

• Communication with unmanned space probes millions of miles from Earth. This involves sophisticated technologies in radio astronomy, signal modulation, and error correction to maintain data integrity over vast distances.

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Mastery of fundamental electrical principles is essential for comprehending and innovating within these advanced technological domains.

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Let’s Stop Dumbing It Down

Electricity is fascinating. It’s elegant. It follows deeply beautiful mathematical principles. I’m living proof that with hard work, and dedication, that anyone can learn it, but they must be taught by qualified technical people, whether online or preferably by formal education.

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Whether you’re learning to be a plumber, or you’re an electrical enthusiast thinking of becoming an electrician, technician, or engineer, there are no shortcuts to learning your craft.​

 

If plumbing does have any similarity to electrical systems, it’s this: both require training from experts in the field, thousands of hours of study, dedication, and lifelong learning.​​

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Let’s end the water pipe analogy

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The issue at hand isn’t merely that the water analogy is flawed; it’s that it is entirely inaccurate. Those who teach it either lack a proper understanding of electrical principles or presume their audience can’t grasp accurate concepts. This approach is not only completely misleading but also condescending and insulting to the people trying to learn.  Instead of facilitating learning, it results in confusion, leaving learners without the real foundational knowledge to build upon. It’s akin to constructing a building on quicksand—no matter how hard you try, it’s impossible to build anything on that foundation.​

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At PazogaEngineering.com, I am not here to water-down science. I'm here to teach what's real, not what's trendy. 

 

Let’s teach actual electronics, with honesty, and with deep respect for those who have the desire to learn.

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Because they deserve better.