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. yakhassan

    I want to study electrical electronics but i don't know about it

    Summary:: I am a student and i plan to study electrical electronics but i don't know how to go about it.Anyone who is into it can you please guide me on how to become one I am a student and i plan to study electrical electronics but i don't know how to go about it.Anyone who is into it can you...
  2. K

    Using electrical appliances brought from another country

    I have a heater for my home bought from another country with a different plug, it's ok, it's easy to get an adapter to plug it in, which I often did, however, since it's a heater, I have a question, do I also need to put into consideration of the power ,watt and volt something?? or as long as...
  3. cellist542

    Programs Engineering Triple Major (Mechanical, Electrical, Computer Science)

    I am currently an ambitious sophomore in high school aspiring to become an engineer. Generally, I love physics, chemistry, biology, and I'm interested in computer science. I am interested in aeronautical, biomedical, chemical, electrical, environmental, computer, mechanical, materials, nuclear...
  4. K

    Determine the Electrical potential at a given point

    A rod with a circular center in the middle (which causes the rod to change direction by 90 °) has an evenly distributed linear charge density 𝜆 of electrons along the entire rod. Determine the electrical potential of the red dot in the figure below which is at the center of the circular round...
  5. R

    What is the electrical power output of a turbofan engine?

    Hello All, Happy New Year! A typical modern turbofan engine system creates lift as well as propulsion for the aircraft. Somewhere inside the system, the fast rotating device also works as a generator (alternator) to produce the electricity powering electrical/electronics equipments. What is the...
  6. J

    Electrical RF conductivity of copper oxide

    In my search, I have been looking for any data that might explain the RF resistance from 3 to 30 MHz range of the two basic types of copper oxides that form on the outside of bare copper wire. I believe these oxides become semiconductors and have large range of impedances. Due to the nature...
  7. C

    Electrical current question

    I assume that because there is a resistance, the polarity of the voltage must be the same as the charge flow, and thus the current, in order for energy to flow in the same direction. For instance, could I use the example of a light bulb (the resistor) plugged into AC lines; we know that if the...
  8. C

    Electrical potential of a thin wire in an E field

    Assume that an infinite metallic plate A lies in the xy-plane, and another infinite metallic plate B is parallel to A and at height z = h. The potential of plate A is 0, and the potential of plate B is constant and equal to V. So, there is a uniform electrostatic field E between plates A and B...
  9. A

    How exactly does a turbine convert mechanical energy into electrical?

    I understand that the turbine drives rotational motion of a low and high speed shaft which rotates within the generator, but how exactly, and with what components/materials does this create electrical energy? Is there a minimum required rotational speed or torque required to generate...
  10. M

    What is the electrical equivalent circuit for this interaction?

    A textbook gives an example of an ideal mass striking an ideal string here: This is drawn as an equivalent electrical circuit as follows, where each R represents one of the two string segments the mass interacts with (ie. the string segment to the left of the mass and the string segment to...
  11. Z

    Electrical current in semiconductors

    When a voltage is applied to a semiconductor at RT, the thermally excited electrons in the conduction band can move freely, similarly the hole that is generated in the valance band. Suppose we drop a voltage across the semiconductor. The electrons in the conduction band moves towards the...
  12. bjAndrea

    B Converting 10 PSI to Electrical Energy

    This is not my subject, but I need to know if I can convert 10 PSI to energy. for example, If I have a permanent magnet motor rotate X time (RPM) to produce 10 PSI. Now Can I invert this process, if I have 10 PSI and let it pass on a permanent magnet motor, How much electricity will produce? in...
  13. K

    What is causing the strange ground current loop in this motor circuit?

    In the attached picture, I’ve drawn a crude schematic of the motor circuit. It is fed from a switchgear feeding 3 total motors. The feed contains 2 parallel conductors on each phase and ground. The equipment ground reads 12a going back to the switchgear, 6a per conductor. From the starter to...
  14. anorlunda

    California Fires and Electrical Reliability Around The World

    One of the big news stories this week is the pre-emptive blackouts in California. Some commentators have said such events could never happen in their country. Why do we read of USA electric supply problems more often than in some other countries? Are there significant differences in...
  15. markzboyce

    Can someone compute the electrical output of this machine in watts

    Setting aside whether this works or not, can someone here compute the output in watts-?
  16. N

    Is the Apple iPad Considered an Electrical Equipment?

    Can tablets like apple ipad be considered an "electrical" equipment? I know it falls under electronics. But could it be electrical since the adapter is plugged to electrical outlets?
  17. J

    Engineering Calculating the gap of a parallel plate capacitor

    I've been given this question for my TMA2, I've tried looking at the learning material but it gives no information on how to calculate the gap? Does anyone have a formula for this? Or can someone point me in the right direction? Thanks
  18. H

    How to get admission into Master's in Astronomy after electrical engineering

    Hello, I am Harshil from india. I have completed my Bachelor's in electrical and now i want to do Master's in Astronomy, so i have few questions please answre it... 1) Can i get the admission in MS/Msc astronomy if i have done electrical engineering? 2) If the answer of first question is...
  19. D

    Engineering Should I Study Mechanical or Electrical Engineering to Design Magnetic Systems?

    Hello, I want to do what a mechanical engineer does but with the electromagnetic force. What should I study mechanical or electrical engineering? An ideal job for me would be designing the magnetic system for motion in a maglev train, for example.
  20. PlasMav

    What is the discrepancy between two equations for calculating electrical forces?

    Hello, First of all I want to say that I am not an EE, I am an ME but I am working for an EE laboratory on campus and am trying to get a force from and electrical circuit on a project here. I am using the following equations: F = 1/2*L'*I^2 (where L' = H/m) and F =...
  21. Avaro667

    Electrical Engineers with advanced physics knoweledge

    Hello . Is there any EE who thinks he had to go the extra mile in studying physics to this point in his career ? What courses did you take in both physics and mathematics? Did you read any topic on your own ? I'm really interested in your answers :) . I think i would like to get into IC design...
  22. Emmo Amaranth

    Electrical Engineering Beginner's Resources

    As the title suggests, I'm hoping some of you have some favorite resources for a self-studying novice. I'm sure there are a LOT of places online (and in print) to learn, but if anyone can help point me in the right direction I'd be very appreciative. Cheers!
  23. Another

    Electronics Material with response to moisture and electrical changes?

    I want to know what is the material that has a moisture and electrical properties response ? Do I have an idea to create an electrical device that is related to moisture using some materials that are responsive to moisture and electrical properties
  24. Noelani2306

    Electrical field outside a hollow spherical conductor

    Hello everyone, There is an electrical field inside and outside (at the same time) the spherical hollow conductor when we place positive or negative charge inside, isn't it? I know this is because of the induced charges on the inner and outer surfaces of the conductor. There is no field inside...
  25. falsepromises

    Why is electrical conductivity denoted by G?

    I did search Wikipedia and other science related websites, couldn't find an answer. Let me know if anyone knows the story behind G.
  26. Ramazan Duzgun

    How can Center-tapped Transformer parameters be found?

    It is a common center-tap transformer which is electrically demonstrated as in figure (ideal one); In my opinion, open circuit and short circuit tests cannot be applied directly. How can I place secondary reactances ? And how can I test its all parameters in laboratory ?
  27. L

    MHB Electrical Engineering Problem

    An electric oven is heated using electricity from a 110 V power line. The power line is connected to a resistance heater in the oven, and the current through the heater is found to be 1.0 A. Assuming the heater is 100% efficient in converting electrical power into thermal power, what is the...
  28. D

    Electrical Enclosed water turbine power generation

    In theory or at least in my head, it seems simple enough to me. A simple water pump, such as a pool pump pushes water through a pipe into a water turbine and recycles the water directly back to the pump. With some of the hydrogenerators I've seen out there, they produce far more power than the...
  29. dRic2

    Heat transfer in a nuclear reactor and the electrical equivalent

    To write the equation I took as the control volume the following block: and the equation I wrote are: $$ 6m_{f} c_{p_{f}} \frac {dT_{f}}{dt} = 6P - \frac 1 {R_1} (T_f - T_g) \text{ for the fuel}$$ $$ m_{g} c_{p_g} \frac {dT_{g}}{dt} = \frac 1 {R_1} (T_f - T_g) - \frac 1 {R_2} (T_g - T_c)...
  30. M

    COMSOL: How to relate terminals in electrical current?

    hello, i have a problem in comsol multiphysics, i want to relate many terminals to each other to buid a current circuit in 2D geometry. I was thinking to simulate the capacity between winding wire of a coil. So, I have to choose boundary conditions in the winding wire which are Terminals and...
  31. D

    How to create device that makes electrical discharge

    How do I build a device that creates An electrical discharge between wires? I can build an oscillator. Do I Connect an oscillator to a transformer and connect the transformer to a pair of wires?
  32. I

    I am Imran, a retired Electrical Engineer with a QM question

    Hi , Could somebody explain how to DERIVE the canonical postulate [Xcap,Pcap]=ihbar ? The idea of Pcap operator's origin as -ihbar d/dx also is found puzzling .
  33. E

    Cathodal vs Anodal Electrical Stimulation

    Hello everyone, I am studying at the moment electrical stimulation of nerve fibers. I encountered this image which compares cathodal and anodal stimulation but illustrating the anodal block ocurring with cathode current. But I don't really get the point of the image, could someone clarify it...
  34. callie123

    Can constant electrical current heat water?

    Hi, I'm trying to make a realistic scene, in which water is kept under constant electrical charge. If the power is around 75 milliamps, and it's in a stream about twenty feet across by ten feet deep, would this affect water temperature? Thanks!
  35. Eucliwood

    Theoretical vs measured electrical resistance: Percent error relation

    Mentor Note -- Thread moved from the technical forums, so no Homework Template is shown. So, we've conducted an experiment on resistors in a circuit. The theoretical calculation was based of on E-24 series color band table and the measured resistance of the resistor was measured by a meter...
  36. J

    Electrical force vs Gravitational force

    Hi, I have always held (and still do I suppose) the view that gravity is much weaker than the coulomb electrical force due to the fact the equations are so similar you can just compare the constants from each equation showing that the graviational force is many orders of magnitude smaller...
  37. A

    Electrical generation from used water in my home

    Hi everyone. I was just out in my back garden and was watching the water from someone's shower pour down the pipe and out into a drain. I was thinking if all of the used water from my house just goes down a drain then why not try make use of it. If the water system continues after use and takes...
  38. Q

    High temperature electrical insolator that repels carbon deposits

    Is there any material/s that will handle CVI furnace temperatures (1250 C) and will either repel carbon deposits or react with it to create a compound that is not electric conductive? Trying to contain power to the heating element without shorting it to the base/ground through heating element...
  39. G

    Courses Electrical Engineering: what study path would be better?

    Hey guys! So basically I'm still finding hard to decide what my specialization field should be next year. I'm really torn between a major in Electronics with a minor in Power Systems with some programming additional courses OR major in Power Systems with minor in Electronics. My favourite...
  40. Wrichik Basu

    What type of electrical contact joint is this?

    While working on an old electric iron, I found this joint in the wires: Any idea what this joint is? Does it have a special name? The wires are in a horrible condition, so I have to change them. How can I build this joint by myself? Or are such wires readily available in the market?
  41. Boltzman Oscillation

    Electrical Engineering: Is this signal stable?

    Homework Statement y(t) = x(1-5t) Homework Equations noneThe Attempt at a Solution well I've never looked at the stability of a signal which has a time scale and shift. My guess is that it is stable as anything I can provide as input will output a bounded signal. Ex: if x(t) is u(t) then...
  42. thegreengineer

    Electrical How can I waterproof an electrical component?

    Good evening, it's been a while since my last thread here in PF. I will go straight to the point: I want to measure temperature using an NTC3950 thermistor. My circuit diagram is as follows: It's basically a voltage divider. By varying the temperature acting upon the thermistor the output...
  43. Ricky Aguilar

    I need to interview an electrical engineer (School related)

    Good evening everyone, My name is Ricky and am in my first year in becoming an electrical engineer at Olympic College in WA. I am in a technical communications and need to write a discourse community analysis paper. Part this paper is interviewing someone with at least a BS in electrical...
  44. C

    Floating potential of a conductor in an electrical field

    I'm interested in the following general question: Assume x,y,z is an axes system, and that the y-z plane is occupied by a conductive plate at a known potential V with respect to the earth. Now, a conductive material M of neutral global electrical charge is placed at some distance of the plate...
  45. H

    Harmonics in the "electrical" domain

    There is some controversy as to why the spectral content of vinyl records contain frequency "information" above what the analog tape recorder was capable of capturing. A thought experiment: If I have a piano that has a key which plays 15khz (primary freq. of that key's piano string), what...
  46. D

    Shape-changing dirigible electrical generation/transmission

    Has anyone considered using a hydrogen lifted and powered airship to generate and transmit high voltage DC electrical power ?
  47. L

    What is Elastic Hysteresis and How Does it Affect Electric Systems?

    Homework Statement sorry just started my hnc in engineering and electrical the worst part for me is this right a current is applied a magnetic field is generated. current is reversed zeros its repeat. metal maintains degree of magnetizem dipole aligment. the magnetic field lags behind the...
  48. V

    Design courses for Electrical engineering

    Which Design courses are available in Electrical engineering for getting good job opportunities
  49. Boltzman Oscillation

    Electrical Engineering: What is the current through this?

    Homework Statement I have a current source of 2mA in parrallel with a resistor of 9.2kOhm and a short. What is the current through the short? Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution I always thought shorts had an infinite amount of current but maybe I do not quite understand the...
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