Wiktor Wise
The study of electricity is called electronics. The field involves the study of electrical circuits and active electrical components such as vacuum tubes, transistors, diodes, sensors, and integrated circuits. Electronics also covers passive interconnection technologies such as circuit boards, electronics packaging technology, and other communication infrastructure. The study of electricity is a broad concept that has evolved over the centuries, from early observations of static electricity by Thales of Miletus around 600 BCE to the establishment of the validity of the atomic hypothesis in the 20th century. Today, electricity is understood as the set of physical phenomena associated with the presence and motion of matter possessing an electric charge, with electric charge being a fundamental property of matter.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the study of electricity | Electronics |
| Scope | Learning how to treat individual, non-moving point charges, progressing to multiple point charges and finally moving point charges |
| Circuits | Analogue circuits and digital circuits |
| Source of electricity | DC (direct or steady current) or AC (alternating or oscillating current) |
| Power | Amount of electricity flowing through a space in a certain amount of time, measured in watts |
| Power sources | Wind, water, or ignitable fuel |
| Electricity generation | Using electric generators that convert a form of energy into electricity |
| Electricity transmission | Transformers that change the voltage of electricity in a conductor or power line |
| Electricity in modern technologies | Electric power and electronics |
| Electricity and magnetism | Unified field of electromagnetism |
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Electronics
The study of electronics typically begins with understanding how to treat individual, non-moving point charges, before progressing to multiple and then moving point charges. This involves learning about the behaviour, flow, and control of electrons under different conditions. The underlying principles that explain how semiconductors work are studied in solid-state physics. The design and construction of electronic circuits to solve practical problems are part of electronics engineering.
Electronic components can be either active or passive. Passive electronic components include capacitors, inductors, and resistors, while active components include semiconductor devices, transistors, and thyristors, which control current flow at the electron level. Electronic circuit functions can be divided into analog and digital groups, with analog circuits using a continuous range of voltage or current for signal processing, and digital circuits using discrete levels.
The semiconductor industry is a key driving force behind the advancement of electronics, with the development of ever-more sophisticated electronic devices and circuits. The MOSFET transistor, for example, revolutionized the electronics industry with its high scalability, affordability, low power consumption, and high density. The complexity of circuits continues to grow, and problems such as speed and size have been addressed with the invention of integrated circuits.
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Electrostatics
The study of electricity is called electronics. It involves understanding how circuits work and the behaviour of active electrical components such as vacuum tubes and transistors. The study of electricity also includes the examination of electric charges, electric currents, and the associated magnetic fields.
Electrostatic phenomena arise from the forces that electric charges exert on each other, as described by Coulomb's law. The magnitude of the electrostatic force between two charges is directly proportional to the product of their magnitudes and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. The force acts along the straight line joining the charges, and the direction of the force depends on the signs of the charges. If the charges have the same sign, the force between them is repulsive, while different signs result in an attractive force.
Electric field lines provide a visual representation of electric fields. These field lines start on positive charges and end on negative charges, running parallel to the direction of the field. The density of the field lines at a point indicates the magnitude of the electric field at that point.
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Electric circuits
The study of electricity is called electronics. This involves learning how circuits work, and there are two main types: analogue and digital. Analogue circuits are built with components like diodes and transistors, while digital circuits use transistors and logic gates. All circuits require a generated source of electricity, which can be either direct current (DC) or alternating current (AC).
There are two main types of electric circuits: direct-current (DC) and alternating-current (AC) circuits. In a DC circuit, the current flows in only one direction, while in an AC circuit, the current pulsates back and forth many times a second, as seen in most household circuits. A series circuit is a type of AC circuit where the current follows a single path, while a parallel circuit has branches, allowing the current to divide and flow through multiple paths.
The performance of electric circuits can be mathematically described by two basic laws: Ohm's law and Kirchhoff's rules. The voltage, or potential difference, in a parallel circuit remains the same across each branch, but the current may vary. In a home electrical circuit, each light or appliance draws a different amount of current according to its power requirements.
Understanding how circuits work is crucial for designing and constructing electronic circuits to solve practical problems in electronics engineering. The behaviour of active components in circuits, such as vacuum tubes and transistors, enables digital switching and is widely applied in information processing, telecommunications, and signal processing.
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Electrochemistry
The study of electricity is called electronics. It involves understanding how circuits work and the behaviour of active electrical components such as vacuum tubes, transistors, diodes, sensors, and integrated circuits.
Chemical reactions that involve the input or generation of electric currents are called electrochemical reactions. These reactions are classified into two categories:
- Production of chemical change by electrical energy, i.e., the phenomenon of electrolysis.
- Conversion of chemical energy into electrical energy, i.e., the generation of electricity by spontaneous redox reactions.
Spontaneous chemical reactions, which can occur without external influence, result in the conversion of chemical energy into electrical energy. The reverse process, where a non-spontaneous chemical reaction occurs by supplying electricity, is also possible. These interconversions are carried out in equipment called an electrochemical cell, which can be further classified into galvanic cells and electrolytic cells.
Galvanic cells, for example, convert chemical energy into electrical energy through redox reactions. Electrolysis is another important concept in electrochemistry, referring to the decomposition of a substance by an electric current.
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Electromagnetism
The study of electrical phenomena dates back to ancient times, with many ancient civilizations creating theories to explain lightning, static electricity, and the attraction between magnetized pieces of iron ore. The ancient Chinese, Mayan, and potentially Egyptian civilizations, for example, knew of the attractive properties of the mineral magnetite. The Greek philosopher, Thales of Miletus, discovered around 600 B.C.E. that amber could acquire an electric charge when rubbed with cloth, allowing it to attract light objects.
However, it was not until the 18th and 19th centuries that scientists developed a mathematical basis for understanding electromagnetic interactions. Notable figures such as Coulomb, Gauss, and Faraday formulated namesake laws that elucidated the formation and interplay of electromagnetic fields. This culminated in the 1860s with Maxwell's equations, which comprehensively described classical electromagnetic fields and their relationship with light and wave phenomena.
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Frequently asked questions
The study of electricity is called electronics.
Electronics involves learning how circuits work. There are two types of circuits: analogue circuits that are built with things like diodes and transistors, and digital circuits that use transistors and logic gates.
Static electricity occurs when charged particles are transferred from one body to another. Lightning, rubbing your hand on a carpet, or the build-up from fuel flow are some examples of static electricity.
An accumulation of moving charge is called an electric current. Electric currents power schools and houses and even flow through magnets.
Electricity and magnetism are both part of the phenomenon of electromagnetism. The motion of electric charges produces a magnetic field.
