Re: OT another electric / electronics question

Posted by KEB on October 26, 2006 at 09:12:42 from (192.91.171.36):

In Reply to: OT another electric / electronics question posted by PhilcaseinWPa on October 26, 2006 at 05:39:10:

Actually, a better analogy is a closed loop hydraulic system, since electricity only flows in loops.

Voltage => hydraulic pressure
Current => flow rate
Power => rate at which work can be done, proportional to both pressure and flow

Both inductors and capacitors store energy.

The hydraulic analog of a capacitor is an accumulator, i.e., in an accumulator, energy is stored in the form a hydraulic fluid held under pressure in the accumulator. In a capacitor, energy is stored in the form of electrons held at some electrical pressure (voltage).

I've never seen a real good mechanical analogy to an inductor. Energy stored in an inductor is sort of analogous to the kinetic energy stored by a moving fluid. A water hammer in plumbing is an example of this. When I close the valve, the kinetic energy stored in the moving water within the pipe (the inertia of the moving fluid) causes a surge in pressure, resulting in a knock. In an inductor, you get a voltage pulse when the current flow is interrupted. The major difference is that in an inductor energy is stored in a magnetic field, rather than kinetic energy as in a moving fluid.

Hope this helps,

Keith

Replies:

• Re: OT another electric / electronics question jdemaris 13:16:49 10/26/06 (0)

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