Molly Ayala
Electrical engineering is a discipline that deals with the study, design, and application of equipment, devices, and systems that use electricity, electronics, and electromagnetism. The field emerged in the latter half of the 19th century with the commercialization of the electric telegraph, the telephone, and electrical power generation, distribution, and use. Electrical engineering has a wide range of applications, including computer engineering, power engineering, telecommunications, and electronics. Some common electrical terms include alternating current, referring to the flow of electrons that reverses direction regularly, circuit breaker, an electrical switch that protects circuits from damage caused by excess current, and conductor, a material that conducts electricity, such as copper or silver.
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What You'll Learn
Electrical engineering history
Electrical engineering is a young discipline, less than 200 years old, but it has evolved rapidly. The history of electrical engineering is closely linked with the history of electricity itself.
Electricity has long been known to humanity, with ancient records referring to electric fish, such as the "Thunderer of the Nile" in Ancient Egyptian texts from 2750 BCE. However, the discovery of lightning and the generation of electricity remained elusive. In the 15th century, Arabic writers came closest to understanding the identity of lightning. In the centuries that followed, notable figures such as Alessandro Volta, William Nicholson, and Anthony Carlyle made groundbreaking discoveries in electricity, such as Volta's electric battery.
The discipline of electrical engineering emerged in the 19th century, with the development of the electric telegraph. In 1814, Michael Faraday, a British chemist and physicist, travelled through Europe, expanding his scientific knowledge. In 1821, he published his research on electromagnetic rotation, which forms the basis of the electric motor. A decade later, in 1831, Faraday discovered electromagnetic induction, the principle behind electric transformers and generators, thus proving that electricity could be converted into mechanical energy and had immense potential for technological development.
The first practical application of electrical engineering was the telegraph, invented by Samuel F.B. Morse in 1837. This was followed by other breakthroughs, including the first working telephone in 1876 and the first lightbulb by Thomas Edison in 1879. In 1882, the Technische Universität Darmstadt founded the world's first department of electrical engineering, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) introduced the first electrical engineering curriculum. The first electrical engineering degree program in the US was started at MIT under Professor Charles Cross. The University of Missouri established the first dedicated department of electrical engineering in the US in 1886.
The late 19th century saw electrical engineering become a recognised profession, with the creation of a global electric telegraph network. The first electrical engineering institutions were founded in the UK and the US to support this emerging discipline. The development of electrical engineering as a distinct field was further solidified by the work of James Clerk Maxwell, who summarised the basic laws of electricity mathematically in 1864, demonstrating that electromagnetic energy travels at the speed of light.
The early 20th century witnessed a growing interest in domestic applications of electricity, with exhibitions featuring "homes of the future". The Second World War accelerated advancements in electronics, particularly radar technology, and the invention of the magnetron. The post-war era saw explosive growth in electrical engineering, with the emergence of graduate instruction and doctoral research, as well as developments in digital electronics, computers, and transistors.
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Electrical engineering degrees
Electrical engineering is an engineering discipline that involves studying, designing, and applying equipment, devices, and systems that use electricity, electronics, and electromagnetism. The world's first electrical engineering degree course was offered at the Technische Universität Darmstadt in 1882, followed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the US. Electrical engineering degrees are now offered at various levels, including associate's, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees.
Associate's Degree in Electrical Engineering
Associate's degrees in electrical engineering provide students with the foundational knowledge required for careers in the field or further study. These two-year programs cover topics such as electrical circuitry, electronic systems, and engineering drawing.
Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering
Bachelor's degrees in electrical engineering are typically four-year programs that prepare graduates for careers in electrical and electronics engineering. The curriculum includes courses such as electrical circuit analysis, electric networks, and engineering economics, as well as advanced physics and mathematics. Some programs may also require an internship.
Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering
Master's programs in electrical engineering build on the knowledge gained from bachelor's programs and usually take 2-3 years to complete. These programs offer specializations in areas such as power systems, computer engineering, or signals processing, enhancing graduates' career prospects in engineering management.
Doctoral Degree in Electrical Engineering
Doctoral programs in electrical engineering emphasize research and design, allowing students to focus on specific disciplines such as computer engineering or software engineering. These programs typically take 5-6 years to complete, and graduates often pursue careers in research and development or academia.
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Electrical engineering terms
Electrical engineering is a multidisciplinary field that involves collaboration with professionals from various domains, including computer science, mechanical engineering, and control systems. A solid grasp of electrical engineering terms is essential for effective communication and problem-solving within these multidisciplinary teams.
Power Loss: This refers to electrical energy lost due to inefficiencies in transmission, distribution, or use. It occurs as electricity flows through a conductor, causing electrons to collide with the conductor's atoms and generate heat, which is then lost as thermal radiation.
Protocol: This term refers to a set of rules that govern the format and timing of data exchange between communication devices.
Rated Temperature Rise: This is the permissible increase in temperature for an electric machine operating under load. It is measured relative to the ambient temperature.
Efficiency: Efficiency is the ratio of mechanical output to electrical input. It indicates how effectively a motor converts electrical energy into mechanical energy.
Energy Efficiency: This term refers to the output energy divided by the input energy, averaged over time if necessary. It specifically focuses on the fraction of energy that is converted into a useful form.
EMF (Electromotive Force): EMF, or electromotive force, is another term for voltage or potential difference. It represents the voltage generated by a motor.
Inductive Reactance, Joule's Law, and Hertz: These terms may be unfamiliar to newcomers to electrical engineering. Inductive reactance refers to the opposition to the flow of current in an AC circuit due to inductance. Joule's Law relates to electrical power, voltage, and current, while Hertz is the unit of measurement for frequency, expressed in cycles per second.
Frequency: Frequency is the number of cycles that occur in a specific time period, usually measured in one second.
Full-Load Current: This term refers to the current required for an electrical machine to produce its rated output or perform its intended function.
Generator: A generator is a device that converts rotating mechanical movement into electric power, producing either alternating (AC) or direct (DC) current.
These terms are just a small selection of the vast vocabulary used in electrical engineering. Staying updated with new terms and advancements in the field is essential for professionals to excel in their domain.
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Electrical engineering applications
Electrical engineering is a discipline that deals with the study, design, and application of equipment, devices, and systems that use electricity, electronics, and electromagnetism. It emerged as an occupation in the 19th century with the advent of the electric telegraph, telephone, and electrical power generation. Electrical engineering has a wide range of applications, including:
Power Generation, Transmission, and Distribution
Electrical engineers are involved in power generation, transmission, and distribution systems. They design and develop power generation equipment and work with electrical power distribution.
Telecommunications and Signal Processing
Engineers in this field design and build wireless and telecommunications networks, such as the internet, cellular networks, and satellite systems. They transmit and receive data, including voice and video signals, using optical fibers, wireless radio waves, and copper cables. Signal processing involves analyzing and manipulating signals for audio, video, and telecommunications.
Control Engineering and Robotics
Control engineering focuses on modeling dynamic systems and designing controllers for desired behavior. It has applications in robotics, automation, and flight and propulsion systems. Electrical engineers work with electronic circuits, digital signal processors, and programmable logic controllers (PLCs) to implement control systems.
Computing and Computer Engineering
Computer engineers deal with hardware and software aspects of computing. They work with robotics, computer-aided design (CAD), and electronic manufacturing processes. Electrical engineering also overlaps with computer engineering, involving the design and development of computer systems and algorithms for data manipulation.
Optics and Photonics
This field involves the generation, transmission, amplification, and analysis of electromagnetic radiation. Optics deals with the design of optical instruments like lenses, microscopes, and lasers, while photonics builds on optical technology with developments like optoelectronics and laser systems.
Electrical engineering offers diverse career paths and is crucial for driving economies and meeting future technological demands.
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Electrical engineering pioneers
The development of electric power and its applications have brought about some of the most dramatic changes in the history of humankind. We have electrical engineering pioneers to thank for the modern quality of life. Here are some pioneers of electrical engineering:
Nikola Tesla
The Serbian-American inventor, electrical engineer, mechanical engineer, physicist, and futurist is known for his contributions to the design of the modern alternating current (AC) electricity supply system. His AC systems were a vast improvement on the efficiency of direct current (DC) systems, which wasted energy through friction. He earned 111 U.S. patents during his lifetime.
Thomas Edison
Thomas Alva Edison is another prolific name in the history of electrical engineering. He is known for his work on incandescent lighting.
Guglielmo Marconi
Marconi was an Italian inventor, and electrical engineer known for his pioneering work on long-distance radio transmission. He is credited as the inventor of radio and won the 1909 Nobel Prize in Physics for his contributions to the development of wireless telegraphy.
Lee de Forest
The American inventor had over 180 patents. He is known as the "Father of Radio" and was a pioneer in the development of sound-on-film recording used for motion pictures. His most famous invention was the three-element "Audion" (triode) vacuum tube, which was the first practical amplification device.
Thomas E. Murray
Murray revolutionized the electrical grid of New York City and developed technology that enabled the safe delivery of electricity to buildings.
William Shockley, John Bardeen and Walter Brattain
These pioneers developed the first commercially successful transistor, a milestone achievement.
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Frequently asked questions
ME likely stands for Mechanical Engineering or Mechatronics Engineering.
Electrical engineering is an engineering discipline that deals with the study, design, and application of equipment, devices, and systems that use electricity, electronics, and electromagnetism.
Some common electrical terms include:
- Circuit breaker
- Conductor
- Fuse
- Alternating Current (AC)
- Ammeter
- Capacitor
Examples of electrical devices include:
- Generators
- Motors
- Alternators
- Transistors
- LED lights
Some electrical units of measurement are:
- Ampere (or Amp), which measures the flow of current in a circuit
- Kilowatt (kW), which measures power
- Ohm, which measures resistance
