What is Electrical engineering: Definition and 648 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.

View More On Wikipedia.org
  1. E

    Stability test for Feedback Amplifiers

    Does the following simple test deduced from Nyquist criterion also apply to positive feedback or it needs to be modified? If magnitude of loop gain i.e. |T (jω)| > 1 at the frequency where phase(T (jω))= −180◦, then the amplifier is unstable. Reference: Analysis and Design of Analog...
  2. CarlPace

    Writer becoming an Engineer

    Hi all! I've worked in entertainment (Film/television, then publishing) for about 12 years, and I'm currently swinging for the fences with a career switch-- two years into my education in electrical engineering. Two more to go until, hopefully, I'll have earned a masters degree. While formal...
  3. E

    Galvanic and DC Isolation

    9V DC can kill. Did you hear the story of this person who tried using multimeter to test resistance of his skin. He tried to thin his skin then the current of the multimeter probe got bigger and stopped his heart and he got killed. So in electrode works in the skin where it is prep by abrading...
  4. C

    Static electricity, cell phone in a rubber case

    Please be kind - have probably a silly question about static electricity, the type when you walk across a carpet and touch something and you get a spark/shock on your finger. Hoping someone here can answer as I’m getting confused. If I’m holding say a cell phone in a rubber case and I have...
  5. E

    Is 2010 the beginning of stable period for amplifiers?

    I noticed some equipments amplifiers were designed in 2010 and they are still using the same components or chips now. Whereas those made in year 2000 are already obsolete by the 2010s. Does it mean there is not much improvement in amplifier, op-amps or instrumentation amps between 2010 and 2024...
  6. peterpnp0107

    What are the goals of a new member in the engineering community?

    Hi everyone, my name is Peter and I am currently an Electrical Engineering student at VinUniversity. I have a huge penchant for robotics and automation in general as well as engineering, science, technology, and cars too! That's why this forum is gonna be a big support for me in exploring...
  7. Frek

    Physics Research as Electrical Engineer

    Hello, I am a 4th-year student at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, specializing in Power Electronics and Automation. I aspire to pursue research in physics. Do you think that obtaining a Master's and Ph.D. in physics, alongside my technical bachelor's degree, could be sufficient for this...
  8. P

    What do I study in school for Lorentz Force Propulsion R&D?

    Hello I'm new to the forum and I want to go to school for the specific purpose of developing the education I need to have the ability to research and develop a very interesting theoretical propulsion subject I've sort of stumbled over on the internet. I'm creating this post to ask the specific...
  9. A

    Other Mechanical drafter moving to electrical engineering

    Hello, I'm currently working as a mechanical drafter a few years out of high school. I have a few different certifications in Solidworks, Inventor, AutoCAD, and also from the tech school I went. I've worked at my current job for about two years as a military contractor and have a security...
  10. DaveC426913

    Is this how one runs cable when upgrading a house?

    Is this common practice? There's 4 holes cut in this wall (one in the left way at the top) to run a light and light switch in the room on the other side. This electrician (who has done work for us before) was given instructions to install various circuits in our finished basement. Some of...
  11. Valentin1999

    Ansys Maxwell error when moving a magnetic core and a copper cylinder with a hole

    Hello. I have a magnetic core and a copper cylinder with a hole. I ask the cylinder to rotate and the magnet to move from left to right. I want to calculate Foucault currents in a copper cylinder, but an error appears. "Failture in handing multiply connected region to eddy current. 1. Band...
  12. Z

    Admissions Seeking some advice (and maybe encouragement) going into a PhD program in Engineering

    I am an international student attending very small college in US, currently senior. My dream since I was little was to study in engineering field. Unfortunately, because of financial difficulties (being an international student limited scholarship opportunities), my only choice for undergrad was...
  13. H

    Induced EMF in Ansys Maxwell

    Hi guys, I'm new to this forum. I'd like to know how I could perform a simulation to find the induced EMF in a coil placed closer to a current-carrying conductor. I'm not sure how I should model the coil. I tried modelling it as a solenoid but the solenoid exceeds my required length when I enter...
  14. bigmike94

    Courses Help choosing modules for electrical engineer - electronics degree

    TL;DR Summary: Which path would be best. Physics or mechanical for electrical engineering. My uni doesn’t offer electrical engineering but offers electronics engineering. Looking for advice from anyone in industry or similar. I’m on an open STEM degree and I’m following the electronics...
  15. benagastov

    I Photodetector Output & Refractive Index of FO Cladding/Coating

    After I finished preparing gas chamber for testing optical fiber as gas sensor, my supervisor asked me to measure the difference of refractive index from several optical fiber with different coatings. I knew there is Evanescent Field and Skin Depth effect, but what kind of mathematical formula...
  16. The Bill

    Engineering EE resources for audio hardware design?

    My Google-fu has been failing me on this. I'm looking for a good variety of online resources and textbooks on the design of audio equipment. The level I'm looking for would be for upper-level undergraduate or intro graduate level electrical engineering. Topics must include how to best isolate...
  17. core7916

    What is the issue with my boost converter design and how can I fix it?

    Hello, I am designing a simple boost circuit, in which I have convert output of 200v. i am testing the idifferent input voltages , 12, 15 and 24v supply. But in each time there is no change in voltage in duty cycle- 20% -40%. like example. i am giving input as 12v. outputs are. duty cycle -...
  18. yucheng

    Engineering EE Design Calcs: Mastery Expected? Textbook Examples?

    Looking through the Art of Electronics, I barely see any equations, mostly description. However, checking out this video, we get a whole page of calculations. Are the authors of AoE expecting that practitioners are already fluent in these design calculations? Are there examples of such...
  19. Pipsqueakalchemist

    Engineering Separately excited DC motor problem (Electrical Engineering)

    Hello, so for this question I know how to solve it but I still have a few questions. First when the question means it's rated at 20 HP and 600 V, it's referring to the source voltage and Pin correct? Also in order to solve this question, the rotation loss Prot was neglected. This was because at...
  20. Franklie001

    Engineering RLC circuit -- Phasor Transfer Function calculation

    Good morning, I need some help solving those two question. I've attached my attempted solution below. Could i solve the transfer function any further? Thank you for your help
  21. L

    Studying Should I take up electrical engineering or computer science?

    I am currently in my final year of high school in India, and slightly confused as to which course I should take. I've always been interested in physics, and would eventually like to do research in quantum computing. I'm not sure whether to take a B.S. in Physics, or engineering (a BTech) in...
  22. wyattmarshall

    Best way to self-teach Electrical Engineering and Embedded Systems?

    Summary: Trying to self-teach Electrical Engineering, Embedded Linux and AVR/ARM to make a career change into embedded systems development and I need suggestions on the best way to do that. I have a plan but I honestly have no idea if its a good one. I have been into computers my whole life...
  23. J3J33J333

    Choosing Physics or Electrical Engineering

    Hello, I'm trying to decide between physics and electrical engineering. I like building electrical stuff, and I like solving physics problems, but my main goal is to try to build power systems that integrate things like what can be found in this paper https://arxiv.org/abs/1401.0520. I would...
  24. V

    Undergrad Research Topic Ideas Please (Electrical Engineering)

    I'm currently looking for possible innovative research topics or ideas, I'm having a hard time to think of one since everything is getting really advance. Thank you.
  25. M

    How do you use electrical components adequately?

    The image i provided is a section of microcontroller circuit that i used to interface code in C with the I/O port of the microcontroller, in Proteus. I have realized i was only ever told to learn how to measure the voltage and current across the components, Kirchhoff's rules and all, and...
  26. Franklie001

    AC circuit analysis involving resistors and inductors

    Summary:: Hi anyone can explain me how to solve this circuit, finding the current I2 and I1? Really don't know where to start Thanks
  27. M

    Engineering AC Circuit Phasors: Find I1, I2, I3

    Summary:: Hi, I tried attempting this problem in alternating current in order to find out the phasors as complex numbers, and I would be more than grateful if someone could peer review it, and confirm my calculations (Please see below both the Figure and the calculations) Please find attached...
  28. A

    Inductor Efficiency via LC Oscillator

    I want to create an LC circuit with varying inductors and compare those inductors for efficiency. Would it be accurate to suggest measuring the area under the curve of the first cycle of the resonant frequency would determine which of the inductors are most efficient? If the area is greater...
  29. F

    Programs Electrical Engineering vs. Robotics in Graduate School

    Hello everyone, I am looking at two master's degree programs (graduate school) : electrical engineering and robotics. Taking decisions is hard, and I would gladly like some advice making up my mind. I have a bachelor's degree (undergrad) in electronics and electrical engineering, which grants...
  30. S

    Engineering Complex Thevenin's Circuit

    So I've been absolutely stumped on this one. I've tried about a million different things but none of them have seemed right. A combination of the odd layout of the circuit, and a combined voltage/current source are making things really complicated for me. I'm somewhat sure the RTh is 15kΩ due to...
  31. S

    Engineering Norton's Theorem -- Help checking my work please

    So I've just learned Norton's Theorem and I have this problem on my homework assignment that is wrong. I've checked the answer with a circuit simulator(PSPICE) and the simulation said that V0 should be a drop of 2V. However, my simplified circuit shows a voltage drop of 4V. I have been staring...
  32. G

    Engineering Induction motor no load magnetisation loss

    The study material says under 'Estimation of magnetising losses' :On no-load, the rotor current is very small and the slip almost zero. Therefore, R′2s is very high and virtually no current flows through the branch of the circuit containing R′2s. Consequently, the no-load current is virtually...
  33. H

    Solving an Electrical Engineering Challenge with a Tank of Electrolyte Liquid

    So I am working on a project where I have a tank, which has a volume of electrolyte liquid inside it. This is coupled to a battery which charges it, and gives it energy. I will have a copperband arround it, so i can measure a potential voltage from the electrical field. So what I need to...
  34. E

    Engineering Electric Power Systems book recommendation

    Summary:: Electric Power Systems book recommendation Hi everyone, I finished my Electrical Engineering degree 15 years ago and wanted to refresh/review/update my knowledge on Electrical Power Systems. I'm looking for a book recommendation that has: components of a power system, control of...
  35. W

    Size of bremsstrahlung radiation fields generated by linear accelerators

    Hi everyone, sorry we are talking about pulsed power accelerators again. In this context, it is about the HERMES III again. According to https://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a351472.pdf HERMES III, a 16 terawatt pulsed power accelerator at Sandia National Labs, which fired electron beams...
  36. W

    B Isodose contours of HERMES III

    These pictures below show four isodose contours of HERMES III with different anode-cathode gaps. The radiation produced are gamma rays. More informations can be seen here in the article https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6233581-hermes-iii-gamma-ray-facility-simulation-technology-laboratory-guide-users...
  37. Elias_HH

    Engineering How to draw a block diagram of a discrete element with its impulse response

    Hello friends, I have a problem with a exercise sheet. Given is the impulse response of a discret element. The task is to draw the block diagram. But I think that the solution in the sheet is wrong. Because based on the difference equation (Exercise.pdf) there should be 3 delay elements. I have...
  38. A

    Do you have some good advice for an electrical engineering student?

    Summary:: hello there, what are some good advices you would have liked to know when you were a student of EE? Thanks in advance!
  39. K

    What Happens if 2K2 & 2K3 Close Simultaneously?

    Can someone give me some insight into what would happen at the motor terminals and on the line if 2K2 (run Contactor) and 2K3 (auto xfmr wye contactor) were to close simultaneously. There are interlocks to prevent this, but I would like to know out of curiosity. My theory is that you would have...
  40. N

    Math Switching from Electrical Engineering to Theoretical Physics

    Hi all, I'm going to graduate this May with a degree in Electrical Engineering. While I've done pretty well, my passion was never in EE and I'd like to aim for graduate school in Computational Neuroscience. When I look at the background and methodology employed by many favorite (current)...
  41. cwill53

    Programs Double Major in Electrical Engineering and Physics?

    I’m a freshman in undergrad and I currently attend the University of Illinois at Chicago. I major in electrical engineering but I have an extremely strong interest in physics, chemistry, and materials science. UIC doesn’t have a materials science program, but George Crabtree, a highly cited...
  42. K

    Voltage measurement on a Current Transformer (CT)

    I don’t know the ratio of the CT. I’m just looking for an explanation on this. I thought in order to measure output voltage you need to pass the current through a resistor and read the voltage drop. A co worker put 400a through the CT and measured 130v. Something just seems off to me. Can you...
  43. K

    Vacuum interrupter contacts and displacement current

    I’m self taught so I have a lot of holes in my understanding. I also have little to no mathematical understanding. Even though ironically, I tend to prefer to picture electricity as numbers rather than “water” in a pipe, etc. I’ve been studying displacement current recently and have a question...
  44. garthenar

    Comp Sci Boolean simplification of a larger term?

    I was asked to use De Morgans law to find the complement of a particular equation, I applied the law correctly and simplified my solution down to A'B'CD'+CA+CB'+D'A+D'B' I ran the problem through a boolean simplifier to check my work...
  45. Boltzman Oscillation

    Engineering How should an H bridge circuit be analyzed?

    If I am given an H bridge circuit such as that below: How would I go on analyzing it? I would personally replace all of the transistors by their circuit models but then what would I do with the motor? Do I replace the motor with it's load resistance or is there more to it? I guess motors are...
  46. Boltzman Oscillation

    Engineering How do I find the electric fields for this capacitor?

    the image is given here along with some numerical information: Now I know that the formula for the electric field in a capacitor is given as: $$E = \frac{V}{d}$$ which I can use to obtain the three following fomulas: $$E_1 = \frac{V_1}{d}$$ $$E_2 = \frac{V_2}{d}$$ $$E_3 = \frac{V_3}{d}$$ where...
  47. Boltzman Oscillation

    Engineering Help finding the damping ratio formula for this circuit

    The circuit to be analyzed is shown below: Since initial conditions are zero (from the instructions) I will use laplace transforms for the cirucit and I will use the MAME method to solve this circuit. The laplace transforms that are required will give me: $$E_g(s) = \frac{10}{s}$$ $$ L_3 =...
Back
Top