What is Electrical engineering: Definition and 649 Discussions

Electrical engineering is an engineering discipline concerned with the study, design and application of equipment, devices and systems which use electricity, electronics, and electromagnetism. It emerged as an identifiable occupation in the latter half of the 19th century after commercialization of the electric telegraph, the telephone, and electrical power generation, distribution and use.
Electrical engineering is now divided into a wide range of different fields, including computer engineering, systems engineering, power engineering, telecommunications, radio-frequency engineering, signal processing, instrumentation, electronics, and optics and photonics. Many of these disciplines overlap with other engineering branches, spanning a huge number of specializations including hardware engineering, power electronics, electromagnetics and waves, microwave engineering, nanotechnology, electrochemistry, renewable energies, mechatronics, and electrical materials science.Electrical engineers typically hold a degree in electrical engineering or electronic engineering. Practising engineers may have professional certification and be members of a professional body or an international standards organization. These include the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) (formerly the IEE).
Electrical engineers work in a very wide range of industries and the skills required are likewise variable. These range from circuit theory to the management skills of a project manager. The tools and equipment that an individual engineer may need are similarly variable, ranging from a simple voltmeter to sophisticated design and manufacturing software.

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  1. J

    Engineering What are some common topics covered in electrical engineering courses?

    So I am at the point in my electrical engineering degree where I get to choose electives, but because I feel like I'm not fully familiar with the classes I can choose from.. I've got a few questions: 1. what is radio systems about? Google tells me its about FM/AM radio broadcasts 2. do...
  2. G

    Engineering Electrical Engineering - Circuits - Transistors

    Homework Statement Given the configuration below http://img844.imageshack.us/img844/3364/c5e8.png Find A_{V} and A_{I} Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution I start off by drawing the small signal equivalent r_{e} model. http://imageshack.us/a/img268/7201/9e.png I start off by...
  3. G

    Engineering Electrical Engineering - Circuits - Darlington Configuration

    Homework Statement Determine A_{V} and A_{i} given β_{D} = 8000 and V_{BE} = 1.6 V. http://img801.imageshack.us/img801/6272/44tv.png Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution I'm not exactly sure how to solve this problem. This is a problem that my professor solved in class. The only...
  4. D

    Engineering Computer Engineering versus Electrical Engineering

    I am currently at the point where I am deciding what major to apply for for university and have narrowed my choices down to these two majors. However, I am torn on which one to choose. I am interested both in the design of chips for computers, missiles, etc. but also in some of the...
  5. T

    Should I remain in Electrical Engineering?

    Hello everyone! I am a freshman in electrical engineering and scheduling for next semester is coming up. I chose EE because I loved physics in high school and wanted to go into engineering and had to pick a field at the last minute. The idea of studying applied E&M was/is fascinating. I am...
  6. P

    Engineering Electrical engineering to physics

    to start with... i love electrical engineering but i am even more interested in the deeper phenomena accompanying electrical engineering concepts. i do not have a glaring academic background...i did my under graduation from a mediocre university here in newdelhi(india). my flare for physics is...
  7. A

    Moving from electrical engineering to applied physics.

    I have completed a bachelor in electrical engineering. Because of my interest in physics I have decided to move to applied physics and I have been accepted for a Master program ''Physical Energy and measurement engineering'' from a prestigious technical university in Europe, of course with some...
  8. G

    Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Majors?

    Hey guys! I made an account finally, I've been on here forever, but it is finally time for me to ask this question now that I am in college... For a few years now, almost everyone I have talked to tells me that single majors in engineering are useless, and that double majors are the way to...
  9. Alpharup

    Need refrence book for electrical engineering

    My university is currently prescribing Vincent Del Toro book for electrical engineering fundamentals. I have read few chapters in the book but I don't think I can understand advanced theories from it... I don't understand the proof of superposition, delta to star conversions and so on.(I don't...
  10. S

    How can electrical engineering be self-taught?

    Besides learning how to solve problems through textbooks, how can electrical engineering be self-taught for the labs? Do you buy the materials? What are the necessary materials that you must have?
  11. E

    Electrical Engineering project ideas

    Hello everyone, i need some ideas for my final year electrical engineering project. Any new ideas related to solar energy or other renewable sources? Thank you for your time.
  12. T

    Engineering Quantum Mechanics and Electrical Engineering

    What areas of electrical engineering research require good knowledge of quantum mechanics? I'm an EE major minoring in Physics (done 3 years). I know I want to do research, but I'm trying to figure out what area(s) of research I want to pursue. Of my classes my favourites have been the ones...
  13. C

    Electrical Engineering Electives (Engineering Circuits Course))

    Hi I heard great things about this forum and thought I would post one of my questions here. I am currently a second year Engineering student pursuing a degree in Electrical Engineering. So far I have not taken much engineering electives except for thermodynamics and a programming class. So far I...
  14. A

    Electronics engineering or electrical engineering

    Hi everyone, I am an italian student (last year of high school) who would like to study engineering at university. I don't know which one to choose between electronics engineering or electrical engineering (I don't know whether there is this difference abroad) I just want to say something...
  15. Y

    Electrical engineering curriculum.

    hi all here is my school curriculum : First Year : 1st semester ENG 101 college writing MTH 181 Calculus I CHM 261 General Chemistry I CHM 266 General Chemistry Lab I ESC 120 Intro To Engineering Design ESC 100 New Student Orientation semester 2: ENG 102 OR ESC...
  16. P

    Electrical Engineering : Fields of study and work.Are you enjoying it?

    Hi, I'm done with my second year of electrical engineering and am interning at nVidia. So far all I see is people in cubicles debugging code and compiling kernels. Of course there's nothing wrong with it but I was disappointed because I chose electrical over computer science in the hope of...
  17. Y

    Electrical engineering curriculum ,your opinion is required.

    hi I am going to apply to Cleveland State university soon to major in Electrical engineering. here is the program they offer : http://www.csuohio.edu/undergradcatalog/eng/programs/ele.htm I would appreciate it if some 1 in here who has a good experience review the program and tell me what...
  18. X

    Engineering Electrical Engineering or Civil Engineering?

    One advice I received on choosing a major is pick what you are good at and what you like while keep in mind what future career you might have. Even though I was just accepted into the EE department after my freshman year, I am still unsure if I really want to do EE. Would someone please give...
  19. B

    Hobbies for electrical engineering (ideas)

    I am studying to be an electrical engineer and want to use what I am learning in a hobby. If there is any engineers that have an electronic type hobby what is it and where did you get the idea from?
  20. C

    Studying What Books do you recommend on Electrical Engineering?

    So, I'm a computer science major because I love programming and maths, but I really want to also learn the hardware part of computers as well. My university doesn't have an electrical engineering programme or offer any serious courses dealing with electrical engineering. I really want to learn...
  21. P

    Programs Physics and Electrical Engineering Double Major?

    Hello there and thank you for taking your time to read this. Well my problem is that I can't decide if I should double major or not. I am going to be an incoming freshman to college with my intended major being physics. I wanted to double major with EE because I find it to also be interesting...
  22. H

    Any Ideas for an Electrical Engineering Project?

    I'm on my final year of my Electrical Engineering Degree, and I'm just needing some guidance on what I should base or do for my final project. Any help, links or possible designs would be fanastic! Cheers Hayden
  23. M

    M.Sc in Electrical Engineering: Signal Processing

    Hi All, Since I myself hate reading long posts I will cut to the chase. I graduate in June with a B.Sc in electrical engineering and am hoping to go for graduate studies. During the last four years I took courses in almost all areas of electrical engineering. The only field I liked AND...
  24. G

    Electrical Engineering - Design Problem - Capacitors

    Problem Given the power that is needed to be output by the capacitor - P the length of time that the capictor must give off that power - t the maximum operation voltage that the capacitor can operate at- V the dialectric constant of several materials - ε the breakdown field of those several...
  25. C

    Engineering Not sure which field of Electrical Engineering I should be going into.

    I'm in my first year, which is a HNC. I'm currently thinking of what I'd like to do once I graduate, my idea is to get a job in doing the field of electrical engineering I like most, then maybe starting a company in doing that once I felt confident in what I was doing. I'm just unsure of what...
  26. G

    Electrical Engineering - Operational Amplifiers

    Hi in a homework problem I'm trying to solve circuit. I'm getting the output current of an operational amplifier going into the operational amplifier. Is this allowed? If not than I'm violating Kirchhoff Current law and my other calculated values of the circuit must be wrong. Thanks for...
  27. I

    Engineering Computer or Electrical Engineering

    Hi everyone I have a tough choice I have to make, I still have time, but I've been thinking about it for a while now. I'm currently in my second semester at a local university. I live near Detroit and my life dream has been working for an automotive company (or at least in the automotive...
  28. L

    Programs Minoring in Physics, Majoring in Electrical Engineering

    Hi, I am a Senior in High School taking a lot of STEM classes. So far, I have really enjyed my physics class and AP Chemistry. I am in the 80th percentile for math in my school, taking Precalculus at the college level (the highest my HS offers is AP Calculus). I am an Amateur Radio Operator...
  29. A

    Getting started with Electrical Engineering

    Getting started with Electrical Engineering! Hello, I'm a high school student 15. I want to start building or working more with electronical systems. I build robots some. But i want to get into it further the core of that. With constructing chips (from pre printed boards), networks, high...
  30. A

    Which 2nd Bachelors would best complement a BS in Electrical Engineering?

    Having graduated 3.5 years ago, and being unable to get an entry level EE job (I went into an unrelated field right out of college and have tried getting an entry level EE job for over 1 year now), I need to make a decision. I'm starting to think the only way I can get an engineering job is to...
  31. K

    Philosophy, Electrical Engineering, Jobs and Loans

    I currently have a BA in Philosophy from 2008 and am interested in getting an MS in Electrical Engineering. Are the loans worth it? Does the salary typically outweigh the cons of the loans? How is the employment out there for electrical engineers? Does anyone have any idea as to how my BA...
  32. Y

    Electrical Engineering After Physics Background

    I attend a small LAC. After having taking an electronics course this past semester, I am fascinated by it. While I am still interested in Physics, I would like to skew more towards EE while in grad school (maybe, Quantum Devices, Solid State, etc). Am I in good position to apply to such things...
  33. D

    Engineering Job after Electrical Engineering Technology

    Hey all I graduated in 2009 with 2 Bachelor of Arts, worked for 3 years (profesionally as a marketer and doing PR) but didn't enjoy my career and wanted to transition to electrical engineering as I was looking for more stability in my future career prospects. I started off with a 2 year...
  34. T

    Considering a PhD in EE: Mechanical or Electrical Engineering Focus?

    Just finished with my B.S.M.E. and now my M.S.M.E. and have been considering a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering. I've been offered research opportunities in both the mechanical and electrical engineering departments, so really it's up to me to decide. Can anyone put an industry spin on what I...
  35. M

    Electrical Engineering - Increasing the Time an Alarm will Buzz

    Homework Statement The problem is to create a small alarm that will buzz approximately 6 seconds before it stops buzzing. I managed to create a working alarm, only problem is mines will buzz for around 1.5 seconds not six. Homework Equations τ = RC V = V0e-t/τ The Attempt at a...
  36. J

    Engineering Electrical Engineering - Circuit w/Buzzer Help

    Hi guys, I've been using your forums for quite a while to help reinforce my physics principles, and only just made my account. I wanted to know if there were any electrical engineers that would be willing to assist me with some guidance in a small design challenge. Homework Statement Here are...
  37. O

    Which electrical engineering subdiscipline uses the most math?

    Between control theory, photonics/optoelectronics/semiconductor devices, electromagnetics (antennas or other application), which of these fields has the potential to expose me to the most mathematics in graduate school?
  38. M

    [Electrical Engineering] Three-phase transmission line problem

    Homework Statement A three-phase line delivers 3600 kW at its receiving end at a lagging power factor of 0.85. The line resistance and reactance are 5 Ohms and 8 Ohms per phase respectively. Given that the sending end line voltage is 33kV, you are asked to determine the receiving end line...
  39. R

    Engineering Antimatter Engines and Electrical Engineering?

    Are there opportunities for EEs to be involved in research on antimatter engines? Considering antimatter engines are heavily based on magnetic principles, is it feasible to assume that antimatter engine design will be a subfield of EE? The gap between EE and theoretical physics is getting smaller.
  40. X

    Engineering Most useful parts of electrical engineering?

    I'm currently enrolled in a PhD program in control systems engineering. I'm wondering what tends tend to be the most useful subsets of this field, and consequently the most important to be well-versed in. I've read Kalman filters are very important in real world applications. Optimal Control and...
  41. I

    Engineering Circuit Problem electrical engineering

    Homework Statement Here's the question: http://puu.sh/171ls The Attempt at a Solution I have no idea where to begin. It says R(AB) = R(L) = 301 ohms. What does that mean? Does R(AB) mean the resistance from A to B? Is that the total resistance? The total resistance is equal to 301 ohms which...
  42. S

    Electrical Engineering: Calculate the fault level for a 3Ø fault

    Homework Statement Calculate the fault level for a 3Ø fault at F With bus section CB closed With bus section CB openHomework Equations The circuit diagram can be found here http://s1167.photobucket.com/albums/q629/sayeen1/?action=view&current=fault_level.png The Attempt at a Solution The...
  43. A

    Communication Theory (Electrical Engineering)

    Homework Statement Sketch the single-side and double-sided amplitude and phase spectra of Homework Equations a) Xa(t)=5cos(12∏t-pi/6) b)Xc(t)=4cos(8∏t)cos(12∏t) The Attempt at a Solution I have no idea how to start off this problem
  44. S

    More math for electrical engineering student

    Hi, I have finished my bachelors in electrical engineering and now I will continue with masters in the same area, specifically in telecommunications/signal processing branch. I would not consider my mathematical background too weak, I have good knowledge of calculus and linear algebra. In the...
  45. S

    Schools Graduate School Electrical Engineering with a BS in Math

    My long range educational goal is to complete a PhD program in Electrical Engineering. I am currently enrolled in a dual degree program to get a BS in Math completed in the Spring and my BS in EE completed in the Fall of 2013. There is a specific federal engineering job I was interested in...
  46. M

    Engineering Just got my Electrical engineering degree in Canada - what to do next

    Hi, I just graduated from electrical engineering from University of Toronto. I am interested in Hardware and robotics mostly. Most of the courses I took are in Analog and digital hardware and a little bit of power. I was wondering about job perspective in Western Canada where the jobs have...
  47. T

    Engineering Electrical Engineering - Where are the fast paced jobs?

    This is my first post! Just found this forum - and I'm diggin it... A little background: I'm 30 living in Denver, CO. I have worked in aerospace since my senior year of high school. I was brought on at my current company (large aerospace company) as a 'analog design engineer' which is...
  48. O

    New to electrical engineering (begginer), need some pointers please :p

    Anyways, I will first start off by saying my name is Aaron Orszak and I live in Montreal, Quebec. Lately I've been really into things like computer programming (python and ruby mainly) but I sadly gave up on it because it just didnt fill the void. Right now I am really into electronics and want...
  49. P

    Mechanical vs. Electrical engineering vs. Bioengineering

    Hi, I'm trying to decide between these three majors. I'm in community college right now and plan on transferring next year God willing. I have taken almost all my math, physics, and chem courses and a bio class. I have also taken the following engineering classes at my college to help me...
  50. D

    Engineering Electrical engineering hw/Resistive Circuits

    Homework Statement Im having trouble figuring out these two problems from my home work I've been working on them for 3 hours can anyone give me some insight? Homework Equations If the second problem is unclear, F(s) is (3s+4) divided by s(s+2). Attached is the home work
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