A similar question has been asked here, but mine is more general.
Here is the background: it seems to me that electricity is not so intuitive as it may sound. For example, many (unskilled, as I am) people think an electric plug is like a (water) tap: it delivers what it can, and stop at a maximum flow. But it is not possible to stop the water from flowing, by putting too large a bucket under a tap, whereas if you plug a washing machine you could break the current!
Improving the understanding with analogy seems to be an efficient way to learn (not talking about scholar stuff) about electricity and "feel" it (not too intensely, though).
Water seems to be a good candidate for these analogies: current/water flow, electron/molecule, tension/height difference, resistance/decrease of the pipe section, capacitor/volume with membrane. I also heard about an analogy between electricity/water for transistor.
My question is: is it possible to define a global analogy, which would: (i) allow to better understand any electrical circuit [ideally, a complete transcription would be possible], (ii) be exhaustive (i.e. work for any electronic/electrical component). Other examples include allowing to understand what would happen if the frequency of the electricity changed, or if a power plant produced energy in excess, etc.
I insist: I'm not an electrical engineering. I'm just curious :)
Answer
Using analogies to fluid dynamics (air/water) is useful for some purposes for the complete novice, but it also can lead to confusion. If someone really wants to understand electricity, they need to dispense with the fluid analogies and just learn how electrical fields and charges work. There really isn't a global analogy.
I find it useful to refer to William J. Beaty's articles about electrical misconceptions.
Also to the web site All About Circuits.
And finally, the more in-depth reference book, The Art of Electronics by Paul Horowitz and Winfield Hill.
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