Interactive simulations for science teaching
400 downloadable interactive simulations
Mechanical analogy
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- Summary
- A mechanical analogy of an electric circuit.. The electric charges are here represented as carts. A battery sets the charges in motion, much as the little pushing figures keep he carts moving. An electric light bulb acts as a resistance to the movement of the charges, just as friction would for the carts.
Electric current is the flow of negatively charged electrons which circulate from the negative to the positive terminal of a power source through a conductive circuit. It is characterized by its intensity, which corresponds to the flow rate of the charge.
Note that the intensity of the current is the same throughout the circuit. Given a constant voltage, the current decreases if the resistance increases.
- Learning objectives
- To introduce electrical concepts like current flow, resistance, generator (battery).
- How to use the animation
Click on "Light2" to add a resistor to the circuit.
- Student sheet
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