The car analogy is a common technique, used predominantly in engineering textbooks, to ease the understanding of abstract concepts in which a car, its composite parts, and common circumstances surrounding it are used as analogs for elements of the conceptual systems. The car analogy can be seen elsewhere, in textbooks covering other subjects and at various educational levels,[1] such as explaining regulation of human temperature.[2]
Uses of car analogiesedit
The efficiency of car analogies reside on their capacity to explain difficult concepts (usually due to their high abstraction level) on more mundane terms with which the target audience is comfortable, and with which many also have a special interest. Due to that, car analogies appear more often on works related to applied sciences and technology.
In order to work, car analogies translate agents of action as the car driver, the seller, or police officers; likewise, elements of a system are referred as car pieces, such as wheels, motor, or ignition keys. Resources tend to appear as gas, speed, or as the money that can be spent on better accessories/vehicles.[2]
For example, in the paragraph:
"Zener diodes regulate voltage by acting as complementary loads, drawing more or less current as necessary to ensure a constant voltage drop across the load. This is analogous to regulating the speed of an automobile by braking rather than by varying the throttle position."[3]
Current (resource) is depicted as the car's speed, while the role of the brakes is performed by the Zener diodes (element of the system).
Car analogies are also typically used to explain the quality differences between two similar tools or hardware pieces; in that case, the best one is usually described as a mid-engined Italian supercar or a high-end luxury vehicle.
Referencesedit
^Harrison, Allan (2008). Using analogies in middle and secondary science classrooms : the FAR guide--an interesting way to teach with analogies. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press. ISBN978-1-4129-1333-1. OCLC 123079396.
^ abWormeli, Rick (2009). Metaphors & analogies : power tools for teaching any subject. Portland, Me: Stenhouse Publishers. ISBN978-1-57110-758-9. OCLC 656846661.
^Kuphaldt, Tony R. "Diodes and Rectifiers". Lessons in Electric Circuits. Vol. III–Semiconductors.
April 14, 2024
analogy, analogy, common, technique, used, predominantly, engineering, textbooks, ease, understanding, abstract, concepts, which, composite, parts, common, circumstances, surrounding, used, analogs, elements, conceptual, systems, analogy, seen, elsewhere, text. The car analogy is a common technique used predominantly in engineering textbooks to ease the understanding of abstract concepts in which a car its composite parts and common circumstances surrounding it are used as analogs for elements of the conceptual systems The car analogy can be seen elsewhere in textbooks covering other subjects and at various educational levels 1 such as explaining regulation of human temperature 2 Uses of car analogies editThe efficiency of car analogies reside on their capacity to explain difficult concepts usually due to their high abstraction level on more mundane terms with which the target audience is comfortable and with which many also have a special interest Due to that car analogies appear more often on works related to applied sciences and technology In order to work car analogies translate agents of action as the car driver the seller or police officers likewise elements of a system are referred as car pieces such as wheels motor or ignition keys Resources tend to appear as gas speed or as the money that can be spent on better accessories vehicles 2 For example in the paragraph Zener diodes regulate voltage by acting as complementary loads drawing more or less current as necessary to ensure a constant voltage drop across the load This is analogous to regulating the speed of an automobile by braking rather than by varying the throttle position 3 Current resource is depicted as the car s speed while the role of the brakes is performed by the Zener diodes element of the system Car analogies are also typically used to explain the quality differences between two similar tools or hardware pieces in that case the best one is usually described as a mid engined Italian supercar or a high end luxury vehicle References edit Harrison Allan 2008 Using analogies in middle and secondary science classrooms the FAR guide an interesting way to teach with analogies Thousand Oaks CA Corwin Press ISBN 978 1 4129 1333 1 OCLC 123079396 a b Wormeli Rick 2009 Metaphors amp analogies power tools for teaching any subject Portland Me Stenhouse Publishers ISBN 978 1 57110 758 9 OCLC 656846661 Kuphaldt Tony R Diodes and Rectifiers Lessons in Electric Circuits Vol III Semiconductors Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Car analogy amp oldid 1208055791, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
