Chapter 28

Questions and Answers

Question 1
Joels early model of electricity used
water as an analogy for charge. His
current model uses air as an analogy.
Why does he think air is a better
analogy?

Air is a compressible fluid. It can be compressed into

regions of higher pressure, and will flow from regions of
higher pressure to regions of lower pressure. This is
similar to the way a battery supplies a voltage difference
that causes charge to move from the area of higher
electric pressure to the area of lower electric
pressure. Water is not compressible, so it is not
analogous to change in this way.

Question 2

Whats the difference between electricity

and electronics?

Electricity is what we call the charge

flowing in wires. Electronics is the way we
control that electricity to accomplish
tasks.

Question 3

Using words and drawings,

describe voltage, current, and
resistance?

Voltage is the electric pressure

difference that pushes charge
through a wire. The wire resists
the flow of charge. Current is the
rate at which charge flows. There
are many ways that these ideas
could be expressed in drawings.
Here is one possibility using a
water analogy.

Question 4
Using Ohms law, calculate the voltage
required for a current of 3 amps to flow
through a wire with a resistance of 2
Ohms. Draw a diagram of this circuit.

Question 5
Two 9-volt batteries provide power to a
cordless iron. If the resistance of the iron
is 36 ohms, how much current is flowing
through the iron? Draw a diagram of this
current.

Question 6
There are extensive electrical grids that distribute electricity
from power plants to our homes. The long distances the
electrical charge must move creates extremely high
resistances, so very high voltages are used. Use what youve
learned about the relationship between voltage, current, and
resistance to explain why high voltages might be used to
move an electrical charge through the distribution grid.

Given Ohms law, a very high resistance

would mean a very low current. So, to
keep a measurable current flowing, the
voltage also must be very high.

Question 7

Why are models important for teaching and learning

about subjects such as electricity? Can you think of
other models youve used to describe or learn about
other concepts in this class?

Models are necessary because you cannot see electricity - thus,

models help you picture whats going on. We used scale models to
see how an object or a building will look when it is built at full scale.
We also drew diagrams of energy flowing through walls and through
fluid systems. These energy diagrams are a kind of model because
we cannot actually see the energy flow. The frame of a building can
be modeled as the bones of the building.