I'm not sure the logic gate metaphor works here, because the domain is so different, the questions relate to the charge-voltage relationship and its first and second derivatives.
Maybe a different metaphor would be better: a bank statement involves stored money (like a capacitor), and a profit/loss sheet involves effects of money moving over time (like a resistor), and you can see how they're related through integration/differentiation, but they're fundamental because you can't create a bank account by nailing a bunch of P&Ls together.
Ok, so maybe that's not a great metaphor either? ;)
The paper does discuss equivalence categories (along the lines of nth derivatives of charge and voltage) so it's probably best to refer directly to that!
Maybe a different metaphor would be better: a bank statement involves stored money (like a capacitor), and a profit/loss sheet involves effects of money moving over time (like a resistor), and you can see how they're related through integration/differentiation, but they're fundamental because you can't create a bank account by nailing a bunch of P&Ls together.
Ok, so maybe that's not a great metaphor either? ;)
The paper does discuss equivalence categories (along the lines of nth derivatives of charge and voltage) so it's probably best to refer directly to that!