What is Electrical: Definition and 1000 Discussions

Electricity is the set of physical phenomena associated with the presence and motion of matter that has a property of electric charge. Electricity is related to magnetism, both being part of the phenomenon of electromagnetism, as described by Maxwell's equations. Various common phenomena are related to electricity, including lightning, static electricity, electric heating, electric discharges and many others.
The presence of an electric charge, which can be either positive or negative, produces an electric field. The movement of electric charges is an electric current and produces a magnetic field.
When a charge is placed in a location with a non-zero electric field, a force will act on it. The magnitude of this force is given by Coulomb's law. If the charge moves, the electric field would be doing work on the electric charge. Thus we can speak of electric potential at a certain point in space, which is equal to the work done by an external agent in carrying a unit of positive charge from an arbitrarily chosen reference point to that point without any acceleration and is typically measured in volts.
Electricity is at the heart of many modern technologies, being used for:

Electric power where electric current is used to energise equipment;
Electronics which deals with electrical circuits that involve active electrical components such as vacuum tubes, transistors, diodes and integrated circuits, and associated passive interconnection technologies.Electrical phenomena have been studied since antiquity, though progress in theoretical understanding remained slow until the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. The theory of electromagnetism was developed in the 19th century, and by the end of that century electricity was being put to industrial and residential use by electrical engineers. The rapid expansion in electrical technology at this time transformed industry and society, becoming a driving force for the Second Industrial Revolution. Electricity's extraordinary versatility means it can be put to an almost limitless set of applications which include transport, heating, lighting, communications, and computation. Electrical power is now the backbone of modern industrial society.

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  1. K

    Engineering Electronic engineering bachelor, then MS in electrical?

    Hi I'm new here basically thinking about getting a degree in EE, and the school that I'm interested has electronic engineering instead. Just wondering if I do the electronic engineering bachelor, you think I can still apply for MS in electrical if I don't have background in like power and...
  2. A

    Engineering Areas of electrical engineering with the most potential

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  3. Steven Ellet

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  4. Y

    Coulomb's Law and Electrical Fields

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  5. X

    Understanding Electrical Impedance for Calibrating Sensors

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  6. P

    Static Electricity corrupting electrical equipment

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  7. MagnetDude

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  8. Q

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  9. T

    Engineering Electrical vs Electronic engineering difficulty

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  10. ranju

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  11. N

    Programs Computer Science with a minor in Electrical Engineering

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  12. jcoona

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  13. L

    Electrical Engineering, Computer Science or Economics

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  14. L

    Thinking of starting a course in Electrical Engineering?

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  15. B

    Solving Complex Electrical Circuit: V1, V2, & V3

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  16. C

    Schools Electrical engineering undergrad to physics grad school?

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  17. B

    Electrical neutrality in radioactive decay

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  18. Suraj M

    Synapse: chemical vs electrical

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  19. R

    Two charges, Electrical Potential

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  20. D

    Electrical Eng. (specialized in Telecom) vs Telecom. Eng.

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  21. C

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  22. U

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  23. T

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  24. M

    Solving Electrical Circuits: V1 & V2 Equations

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  25. N

    Understanding Household Electrical Service Lines and Safety Precautions

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  26. A

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  27. icecubebeast

    Engineering What are good electrical engineering books for self study?

    What are some good electrical engineering books for self study? I want to study electrical engineering and make my own little cpu (don't ask why).
  28. G

    Electrical current in metals | energy bands

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  29. F

    Novice Electrical Guy with a Mechanical Question

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  30. L

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  31. P

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  32. O

    Does Electrical or Magnetic field attract photons?

    I have heard that photons are attracted by gravity. Does this apply to electrical or magnetic fields?
  33. R

    Overhead electrical lines and vehicles

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  34. rpthomps

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  35. P

    Electrical Charge and Electric Fields

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  36. M

    Applied Mathematics and Electrical Engineering

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  37. W

    Squirrel cage induction motors - rotor issues

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  38. B

    Electrical Consumption of Machine

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  39. Sakurasus

    Engineering Electrical engineer & physicist, advice on PhD astronomy

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  40. Sakurasus

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  41. I

    Interested in going into Electrical field (highschool student)

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  42. ghost313

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  43. QuantumCurt

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  44. P

    How does water volume affect electrical resistance?

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  45. A

    Engineering Electrical Engineering BS to Physics PhD

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  46. Lamdbaenergy

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  47. D

    Engineering Job prospects of electrical and electronics engineering

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  48. J

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  49. Steven Ellet

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  50. Tejas Rathod

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