5 ms·

Can you give an example of a successful analogy?

by f_allwein 3y ago

deleted 3y ago
[deleted]
helph67 3y ago
One analogy used to `explain' electricity is to compare it with (water) plumbing.
- figassis 3y ago
  It's one of the best analogies. I usually use rivers, waterfalls, dams, rain to illustrate. Basically the water cycle and how humans manipulate it to do things.
- andrei_says_ 3y ago
  I’m still trying to understand electricity in terms of wattage amperage and voltage and the water pipe analogy seems to break down. If you have a solid explanation I’d be delighted to hear/see it.
  - fragmede 3y ago
    In this analogy, water in a pipe is electricity in a wire. Volts: Water pressure. The higher the pressure, the more forceful it goes through, but you can have a large or small diameter pipe with high and low pressures. But water can be highly pressurized without actually moving. Amps: Water flow rate. More amps means more water flowing through the pipe, per second. Watts: Power of the water. Multiply the pressure by the flow rate to get this. Higher with more water flow (amps) and higher pressure (volts).
    - andrei_says_ 3y ago
      Could you expand this to appliances being measure in amps? Is this the resistance? In a solar powered system with limited supply being able to power a limited amount of devices - how is that calculated? What is a mental model I can use for that?
CrypticShift 3y ago
If I'm discussing Apple TV, I'll start by using simple old-media analogies that stick, saying it's like Cable-VOD or a stack of video tapes by your TV. The important thing, I think, is that you have to (at least first) gloss over nuances. Then it is a matter of layering artful examples to try to cover what Apple TV does. It is like picking the right brushes (= small analogies) to paint a familiar scene, rather than constructing a consistent argument from first principles.
- maxrf 3y ago
  This is a nice analogy for 'explaining' in general; start with the familiar and layer in new concepts gradually (checking understanding).
comprev 3y ago
Lego bricks as an example of software development with libraries/modules. I recently did a presentation on the topic :-)

Can you give an example of a successful analogy?

deleted 3y ago

[deleted]

helph67 3y ago

One analogy used to `explain' electricity is to compare it with (water) plumbing.

figassis 3y ago
It's one of the best analogies. I usually use rivers, waterfalls, dams, rain to illustrate. Basically the water cycle and how humans manipulate it to do things.
andrei_says_ 3y ago
I’m still trying to understand electricity in terms of wattage amperage and voltage and the water pipe analogy seems to break down. If you have a solid explanation I’d be delighted to hear/see it.
- fragmede 3y ago
  In this analogy, water in a pipe is electricity in a wire. Volts: Water pressure. The higher the pressure, the more forceful it goes through, but you can have a large or small diameter pipe with high and low pressures. But water can be highly pressurized without actually moving. Amps: Water flow rate. More amps means more water flowing through the pipe, per second. Watts: Power of the water. Multiply the pressure by the flow rate to get this. Higher with more water flow (amps) and higher pressure (volts).
  - andrei_says_ 3y ago
    Could you expand this to appliances being measure in amps? Is this the resistance? In a solar powered system with limited supply being able to power a limited amount of devices - how is that calculated? What is a mental model I can use for that?

CrypticShift 3y ago

If I'm discussing Apple TV, I'll start by using simple old-media analogies that stick, saying it's like Cable-VOD or a stack of video tapes by your TV. The important thing, I think, is that you have to (at least first) gloss over nuances. Then it is a matter of layering artful examples to try to cover what Apple TV does. It is like picking the right brushes (= small analogies) to paint a familiar scene, rather than constructing a consistent argument from first principles.

maxrf 3y ago
This is a nice analogy for 'explaining' in general; start with the familiar and layer in new concepts gradually (checking understanding).

comprev 3y ago

Lego bricks as an example of software development with libraries/modules. I recently did a presentation on the topic :-)