TABLE OF CONTENTS Mechanical engineers have it easy. They can see what they are working on most of the time. As an EE, you do not usually have that luxury. You have to imagine how those pesky electrons are flittering around in your circuit. We are going to cover some basic comparisons that use things you are familiar with to create an intuitive understanding of a circuit. As a side benefit, you will be able to hold your own in a mechanical discussion as well. There are several reasons to do this:
The typical person understands the physical world more intuitively than they understand the electrical one. This is because we interact with it using all of our senses, whereas the electrical world is still very magical, even to an educated engineer. This is because much of what happens inside a circuit cannot be seen, felt, or heard. Think about it. You flip on a light switch and the light goes on. You really don't consider how the electricity caused it to happen. Drag a heavy box across the floor, and you certainly understand the principle of friction.
The rules for both disciplines are exactly the same. Once you understand one, you will understand the other. This is great, because you only have to learn the principles once. When you get a feel for what is happening inside a circuit, you can be an amazingly accurate troubleshooter. The human mind is an incredible instrument for simulation and, unlike a...
