Question #7646e

1 Answer
May 31, 2014

It depends what you asked to explain, and what the person you are explaining to knows already.

It is probably not useful to go back to first principles every time you explain something, instead you should look to build on and extend a person's existing knowledge. For example, if someone asked you to explain what atoms are, you would need to determine what they already knew about atoms. If they know very little you might explain in terms of 'building blocks' from which everything is made, and you may go further and introduce protons, neutrons and electrons. Someone with this knowledge already might appreciate an explanation of electrons in sub shells and orbitals, and so on.

It also helps to know why someone wants to know something. You may need to modify your answer to help them achieve their ovpbjective.