In your own words, describe how an RLC circuit can be made analogous to
a closed system composed of:

• pipes carrying an ideal fluid (incompressible and massless),
• rubber membranes stretched across the pipe interior (stretchable but weightless),
• turbines within the pipes (that spin proportional to the rate of fluid flow and without friction), and
• turbulence-inducing screens across the pipe interior (that resist the flow of fluid).

Match the following electrical quantities:

• voltage,
• current,
• capacitor,
• inductor,
• resistor,
• wire,
  
• capacitance,
• inductance,
• resistance,
• initial voltage across a capacitor,
• initial current through an inductor,

with the following fluid system quantities:

• pipe,
• pressure,
• fine-ness of screen mesh,
• turbine,
• flow rate,
• stiffness of membrane,
• screen,
• rotational mass of turbine,
• membrane,
• amount by which the membrane is initially stretched,
• initial turbine speed.

The analogy above was discussed in class.  You are encouraged to discuss with classmates, especially if you
were not physically or mentally present for the class discussion.

(schniter@ece.osu.edu; Last updated )