Introduction to Electrical Engineering

Electrical Engineering is one of the most popular field of engineering which concerned with the study, design and application of equipment, devices and systems which use electricity, electronics, and electromagnetism. Electrical engineering is the design, building and maintenance of electrical control systems, machinery and equipment.

Electrical Engineering plays an important role in every fields of engineering including Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Power Engineering, Telecommunication Engineering, etc. It is widely use in every aspects around the world.

Electrical Engineering implies electricity which can be use in our day to day lives and very important for our every aspect. Electricity supplies power to run appliances, lights, heavy machineries, etc. Electricity also use for communication and to run our daily appliances like lights, fans, to charge gadgets, computers, to operate automobiles, air planes, etc. It plays an important role and the most important thing in the modern and technological era. Electrical Engineering is the largest profession in engineering.

In the year 1600, William Gilbert, an English Physician used Latin word “electricus” to describe the force that certain substances exert when it can be rubbed against each other, characterized magnetism and static electricity. Later Thomas Browne, an English scientist wrote several books and used the word “electricity” while study on the Gilbert’s concept. In 1752, Ben Franklin conducted an experiment to prove those lightening and electric sparks are the same thing. In 1800, Alexander Volta an Italian Physicist discovered that an electric current could be made to flow. After that, Thomas Edison developed so many useful items such as light bulb. Nikola Tesla developed an induction motor that ran on alternating current (AC).

Electrical engineers typically hold a degree in electrical engineering or electronic engineering. Electrical engineer requires knowledge of mathematics, electrical circuits, energy conservation, logic circuits, etc. Electrical engineering has typically an academic degree with a major in Electrical Engineering. The length of study for diploma, degree and masters are as diploma is three years, degree is four years, and a master is two years, designated as Diploma in Electrical Engineering, Bachelor of Electrical Engineering and Master of Electrical Engineering.

Electrical engineers work in transport networks, lighting, power generation and distribution, renewable energy, manufacturing and construction. Electrical engineers have a wide range of career path to choose. They have to work in core electrical companies or organizations, electrical sub-discipline companies, manufacturing, government, research, etc. Electrical engineers have wide range of career option in their core field as well as in their sub-discipline fields. Electrical engineering is the second highest paid engineering field in the year 2018. There are many jobs are available in the government sector such as in Government Electricity Boards, Telecommunication Offices, etc. and also in many private sectors such as in private companies, organizations, power generation systems, and also in multi-national companies related to the field.

Electrical engineering has many sub-disciplines. The most popular sub-disciplines are listed below:

Electronics:

Electronics engineering is the most popular sub-discipline of an Electrical Engineering. Electronic engineering involves a design and testing of electronic circuits that use the properties of components such as transistors, resistors, diodes, capacitors, inductors, etc. to achieve a particular functionality. It is more popular during world wars and commonly known as radio engineering as an aspect of communication, radar and radio. Later it was converted into electronic as it used into consumer devices such as televisions, telephones, computers, etc.

Power:

Power engineering deals with generation, transmission, distribution of electricity and design of devices. These include electric motors, electric generators, power generators and power generators. Power engineers are work on the design and maintenance of the power grid and power systems.

Telecommunication:

Telecommunication engineering is one of the most popular sub-disciple of electrical and electronics engineering. Telecommunication engineering focuses on the transmission of information from one place to another with the help of cables, optical fibers, free space, wireless, etc. Telecommunication engineer works on the designing and installation of telecommunication equipments such as optical fiber cabling, IP networks, electronic switching systems, etc. It is a diverse field of engineering connected to electrical, electronic, information and system engineering. Telecommunication engineers also provide solutions for radio, satellite communications, internet and broadband technologies.

Control:

Control engineering deals with the design of controllers and modeling of a range of dynamic systems. Control engineering has a wide range of applications from the flight control and propulsion systems cruise control, submarine control, and it is used in many automobiles. Control engineers may use electrical circuits, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, etc.

Instrumentation:

Instrumentation engineering deals with design, developing and managing the measuring devices such as pressure, flow, temperature, force, speed, mass, etc. The devices require good precision and calibration. Instrumentation engineering is the science of the measurement and control of process variables within a production or manufacturing area.

Microelectronics:

Microelectronics is the sub-discipline of electrical and electronics engineering in which the technology for a compact and integrated design of an electronic components. It is the study and manufacturing of very small and microelectronic components. The most common type of microelectronic components is transistors, diodes, capacitors, inductors, semiconductors, etc. The design of microelectronics is largely aided by Electronic Design Automation software.