[sdiy] Wanted: non mathematical description of the function of RC-filters

[Ingo Debus]

Am 08.08.2013 um 00:20 schrieb Richard Wentk:

> Thinking about this, I wouldn't use voltage divider man - I'd use a spring or reservoir model. 

So how would your spring model of a RC lowpass or highpass look like?

Perhaps (for a lowpass) a spring attached with one end to one end of a damper, the other end of the damper attached to a fixed wall, and the other end of the spring attached to something that moves it back and forth. This is the input signal, while the displacement at the joint of the spring and the damper is the output signal. Swap the damper and the spring and you get a highpass.

But honestly, is this easier to understand than an electric RC low-/highpass? First you have to clarify what a spring and what a damper is, this is probably not clear to everyone. Then, at least to me, it's not immediately clear why such an arrangement acts like a lowpass or highpass. Maybe a nice computer animation would help, but then, there are nice computer animations for electrical circuits too.

Ingo