Like Electricity like River

Akshayan Sinha
4 min readMay 28, 2023

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Pilot

Imagine a world where electricity is like a river flowing through wires, and its power is harnessed to create incredible things.

Let's begin our exploration by understanding the first term: voltage.

Voltage — The Driving force for Electrons

Voltage is like the force behind the river, pushing the water forward. In our electrified world, voltage acts as the driving force that propels electrons along a path.

Image by brgfx on Freepik

It's similar to a mighty waterfall that provides the energy for a waterwheel to turn. The greater the voltage, the more forceful the push, propelling electrons to flow with greater speed and vigor.

Current — How Fast are the Electrons flowing?

Now, let's meet the second term: current. Picture the river flowing through the wires as a steady stream of electrons. Current is the measure of how many electrons are flowing per second, much like the volume of water passing through a specific point in the river.

Image by brgfx on Freepik

Think of it as the number of fish swimming in the river, representing the quantity of charge moving through the circuit. The greater the current, the more electrons are flowing, resulting in a stronger flow of energy.

Resistance — Gotta slow down the Electrons

Next, we encounter resistance. Imagine the river encountering obstacles along its course, such as rocks or narrow passages. These obstacles impede the flow of water, just as resistance impedes the flow of electrons.

Resistance can be thought of as the narrow passages in the river or the friction experienced by the fish swimming against the current. It restricts the flow of electrons, slowing them down and converting some of their energy into heat. Resistance is measured in ohms and determines how easily or difficultly electrons can pass through a material or component.

Monitor and Controlling the Electrons

Now that we have a grasp of these terms, let's understand their relationship through Ohm's Law. Ohm's Law is like a set of rules that govern the behavior of our electrified river. It states that the current flowing through a conductor (the number of fish swimming) is directly proportional to the voltage applied (the force pushing the water) and inversely proportional to the resistance encountered (the obstacles in the river).

Ohm’s Law states that the current flowing through a conductor is directly proportional to the voltage applied across it, and inversely proportional to the resistance of the conductor. It can be mathematically expressed as:

V = I * R

V represents voltage (measured in volts, V),
I represents current (measured in amperes, A), and
R represents resistance (measured in ohms, Ω)

This equation is fundamental in understanding the relationship between voltage, current, and resistance in electrical circuits, and it serves as a cornerstone in the field of electrical engineering.

Manipulating Electrons as per Needs

So, if we increase the voltage (the force pushing the water), more electrons (fish) will flow, resulting in a higher current. However, if we increase the resistance (the obstacles in the river), the flow of electrons (fish) will slow down, reducing the current.

By understanding and manipulating these variables, we can control the flow of electricity. Just like adjusting the force of the waterfall or clearing obstacles in the river, we can increase or decrease the current according to our needs.

But why manipulate Electrons?

With this newfound understanding, we can see the significance of electricity in various applications. From lighting up our homes to powering intricate electronic devices, the principles of voltage, current, and resistance enable us to harness the power of electricity and bring our technological dreams to life.

So, as we navigate the electrified river of knowledge, remember that voltage is the force that drives the flow, current is the measure of the flow itself, and resistance is the obstacle that determines the ease of the flow. Together, they form the foundation of electronics, shaping our modern world and propelling us into a future powered by the endless possibilities of electricity.

Conclusion — The TRUTH

Now that we understand electricity, let’s be honest and clear. All you read about an electron moving along with the water, is WRONG. Well, somewhat wrong, because the electrons move OPPOSITE to the flow of current. But, yes everything you read is true considering we talk about the Conventional Current.

Therefore, we can conclude that Electricity is like a river-stream and to understand more concepts, follow me on MEDIUM and LINKEDIN.

I even make Projects, Document tutorials and Make stuff on Hackster.io

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Akshayan Sinha
Akshayan Sinha

Written by Akshayan Sinha

I use dev boards from Arduino, Espressif, Raspberry Pi, STMicroelectronics, Texas Instruments etc to make DIY gadgets.

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