Do people REALLY find electricity all that confusing? I think we should just trust in their intelligence and give them the whole truth from the start. They've already learned about the atom and electrons and how photons are a wave and a particle, it's not much more of a step to talk about electron shells, band gaps and electripotential energy. I wouldn't ecpect them to remember all the details, but at least they would *understand* what happens when they throw the light switch and not have to rely on some hokey analogy. If the kids actually understand what goes on at a fundamental level (or at least feel they do), they might be less msytified over the more intangible aspects.
Really, I blame this on the way our schools work. There is too much emphisis on knowledge and not enough on understanding.
Besides, I tend to look at pipes as wires with water, and highways with traffic as current, doesn't anyone else? In fact, had an argument with the plumbing inspector the other day "But NEC allows me to take simultaity into account when sizing panels and services, why won't you let me do it with pipes??"
