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

    Working as an electrical engineering : Greece or USA ?

    I've graduated as Electrical Engineer in Athens, Greece (Athens polytechnic). I have relatives in U.S. They urge me to come and work in the US because i'll take more money (double the money i get in Greece). But some other people tell me that in the US it's true that you take more money, but it...
  2. J

    Assembly Language for electrical engineering

    I am an undergraduate student and I believe that I will probably major in electrical engineering. So my question is should I take the time to learn x86 assembly? I already know how to program in C++ well enough, but I really haven't done much with asm. I would like to get a microcontroller and...
  3. S

    Other topics in Electrical Engineering?

    So I'm pretty well finished with all of my 300 level courses. Basically, I've got all the basics. I was wondering if you guys think there is anything that is not usually taught that I should teach myself. I've got some free time this summer. Any ideas?
  4. M

    Explore Electrical Engineering with PLAIN: www.altair.org

    hi...i don't know if like this topic exists here ...but i noticed that it is good to make a topic about websites about electrical engineering that seems great for projects or tutorials ... i can begin with [PLAIN]www.altair.org[/URL] (sorry actionintegral)
  5. R

    Electrical Engineering Tutorials

    The site www.powerelectrical.blogspot.com covers electrical engineering topics in detail.The site having basic theory,solved & practice problems and objective questions on all topics in circuit theory and Network analysis.
  6. D

    My Electrical Engineering Resume- how does it look?

    Can somebody read over my resume and tell me whether or not it needs improvements? I've been sending it out but aren't getting my call for interview. My resume is here http://www.csupomona.edu/~hqvu/forreviews.doc Appreciate the help! David.
  7. E

    Programs Majoring in electrical engineering and having a hard time with physics

    hi guys, I'm not sure if this is the right place for this thread, but i'll do it anyways... I'm currently majoring in electrical engineering and having a hard time with physics... i already finished and don't really have problems when it comes to math like calculus I, II, III, and diffy-q...
  8. A

    Electronics VS. Electrical Engineering?

    What's the difference between Electronics Engineering and Electrical Engineering?
  9. F

    Topics for electrical engineering ethics

    I am having trouble coming up with a topic for a research paper dealing with something related to the Eletrical engineering/ technology field. It has to be something that has happened within the last five years. Any idea's? Thanks
  10. B

    Electrical Engineering Notes, Formulas, Facts, and Study Guides

    I am a 2nd year student at an engineering school. I searched google and other sources to try to find anything and everything on electrical engineering. I found only a few good sites, though. So I was wondering if anyone could please give me a useful site or two. : ) Of course I am looking for...
  11. A

    Physics or Electrical Engineering

    I hope the people here can help me in deciding between these two subjects. Here is a bit of background information about me. I am currently a high school senior, and will be going to college in Fall 2007. I am very interested in Physics, especially Cosmology and Astrophysics (the string theory...
  12. P

    Programs Minors in Electrical Engineering

    Hey everyone. I'm a sophomore in Electrical Engineering, and with the deadline coming up for dropping/adding classes, I was hoping I could get your opinions on some things. I love EE, and I'm loving it more now that I'm getting farther into it. And somehow, my schedule works out such that I will...
  13. C

    Specializing in Electrical Engineering: Pros & Cons

    Hi! I am an electrical engineering undergraduate going into my 3rd yr of my university education. Currently thinking of whether to specialise or not. Any suggestions on why I should or shouldn't? Thanks!
  14. K

    Is there any official test for basics of electrical engineering?

    I had to withdraw from this semester due to medical reasons and I would rather not repeat the two engineering classes I took - I feel that I can study what I missed and master it. My only option is to take a test my school would give me in those two classes that I couldn't complete and if I pass...
  15. F

    Electrical Engineering - choosing a focus

    I am a junior in electrical engineering, and I'm at the point where I need to start choosing my technical electives (my focus courses). I took my first Electrodynamics course this semester. I friggen' loved the material. I thought it was VERY interesting although quite hard. I'm thinking about...
  16. R

    Electrical Engineering Question: MOD 4 Ripple Counter

    Hi, I have to design a MOD 4 ripple UP counter that counts in the sequence 10-11-12-13-10-11-12-13-etc... I believe it is right, although it would be nice if you can check. I won't be able to go to the lab until a few weeks. You can view the schematic here...
  17. R

    Intro Electrical Engineering Voltage Regulator

    I need to design a voltage regulator circuit to provide a constant voltage of 5V to a load from a variable supply voltage. The load current carries from 0 to 100 mA and the source voltage varies from 8 to 10 V. You may assume that ideal Zener diodes are available. Resistors of any value can...
  18. F

    Programs I could use some help deciding to major in Electrical Engineering or Physics.

    Introduction I'm currently a sophomore electrical engineer in college, and I'm trying to decide if I should stick with the major or switch to physics. More importantly, I'm concerned with what the decision would mean for my long term future. Executive Summary Right now, I'm not too far into...
  19. M

    Courses I hate Electrical Engineering courses i have 2 left, need guidance

    Hello everyone. I'm currently a Jr. Computer Engineering student. Its funny, you don't really know what a computer engineer really does until your a Jr. and you've already put 2 years. Ever since I was young I loved to program. I always wanted to be a Software Engineer. So when I graduated...
  20. B

    Electrical Engineering school

    Electrical Engineering school please help... Does any have any good recommendations for a School to get a masters in Electrical Engineering in or near South carolina? The university of South Carolina is close and so is Clemson University. I already have an associates in Electronics...
  21. G

    Study Physics instead of Electrical Engineering?

    When going college for the first time, I thought about becoming an electrical engineer. As time passed by, I began to notice electrical engineering was primarily based on physics. I have thought about going back into electrical engineering for the longest time, but I don't if it would be more...
  22. maverick280857

    Physics after Electrical Engineering

    Hello all This topic has probably been debated before, but I have some specific queries and I would like your answers to them in addition to your views. I have the option of pursuing a BTech (equivalent of BS) in Electrical Engineering, an integrated BTech-MTech dual degree in Electrical...
  23. P

    Electrical Engineering and Physics, or an intership

    Hey everyone. I posted this on another thread, but now that I see EE has its own forum, I moved it here (hope the moderators aren't mad at me). I'm an Electrical Engineering student, just finished my freshmen year, and now I'm trying to do decide what to do. In the next couple years, I'll have a...
  24. P

    Electrical Engineering and Physics, or an intership

    Hey everyone. I'm an Electrical Engineering student, just finished my freshmen year, and now I'm trying to do decide what to do. In the next couple years, I'll have a glut of extra credits (I'll be taking around 10 credits a semester and my university says 13 is full time, and recommends 16 a...
  25. F

    To choose between physics engineering and electrical engineering

    Hello everyone! My problem is easy to explain but somewhat hard. I have to make an ultimate final decision between Physics Engineering and Electrical Engineering:confused: . I tend to be more physics inclined, but I am not sure. I know that ultimately is a conclusion that I by myself must be...
  26. S

    Programs Double major in computer and electrical engineering

    I'm majoring in computer engineering ... so I was wondering if I should double major by majoring in electrical engineering as well? I think what I'm trying to ask is ... 1) What's the importance of this particular double major in terms of jobs? 2)How does it look on grad school...
  27. B

    Engineering Electrical engineering, RLC circuit

    Alright, here I come again for help! In a series R, L, C circuit, the values of the passive elements are R=5ohm, L=1H, and C=10uF. The output voltage is taken across R, and te input voltage signal is of variable frequency. Using Electronics Workbench, obtain a plot of V0(t) as a frequency f...
  28. B

    Mechanical Engineering and Electrical Engineering Basics

    Hi, I'm wondering if mechanical engineering requires a fairly extensive knowledge of the basics of electrical engineering eg. circuit theory and the practical side of it.
  29. J

    Majoring in Electrical Engineering

    I am currently taking calculus for engineers and we are supposed to come up with a project that uses calculus to solve problems in an area we are interested in. I am majoring in Electrical Engineering, but i am only a freshman so I don't really know much yet. My problem is simple, the prof was...
  30. M

    What do electrical engineers actually do in the workforce?

    I'm currently in my third year of college majoring in electrical engineering. I'm just now starting to worry about the different kind of jobs that are available out there. I was hoping some electrical engineers can describe their typical days at work. I just have no clue to what exactly a...
  31. M

    Preparing for Ohio State Electrical Engineering

    I've been reading Physics Forums for only a couple of weeks now. And from what I've read, this would be a really great place to gather some helpful advice for going back to college. I was hoping you folks could lend a hand. I graduated high school in 2000 with a good GPA. I have an Associates...
  32. P

    Electrical engineering undergrad

    i will be an undergraduate student of electrical engineering this fall. i have some questions about what i may have to expect. for some clarification: i will be studying at ryerson university. i generally want to know how much of what we learned in my final year of high school i will need...
  33. P

    Electrical Engineering and Physics

    How tough would it be to double major in EE and physics at a respected institution (say MIT)? Paden Roder
  34. exequor

    Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

    I believe that computer science is very important to EE because of firmware and so on. I was wondering, the firmware of a dvd player can be upgraded (i did that to mine to gain extra features) however that is limited by the chipset. But it seems like dvd manufacturers prefer to release a new...
  35. R

    Many students pursue Mechanical and Electrical Engineering rather than

    Many students pursue Mechanical and Electrical Engineering rather than Aerospace Engineering. Only a few student takes Aerospace Enginerring. Do you know why?
  36. P

    Physics vs. Electrical Engineering

    Physics vs. Electrical Engineering... :( ****This is a long post**** I hate having to make this decision, but I think I have to. When I first wanted to get into physics (I love physics, it comes so naturally to me, and it's very interesting), I didn't know what I'd be getting myself into...
  37. M

    Courses Help with electrical engineering course

    help with electrical engineering course! hi there Im 17, in New Zealand and doing an electrical engineering course from home, it would be great if there were a few people out there that I could bounce things off from time to time. thanks a lot your time -Reuben mitz_fitz@hotmail.com
  38. RadiationX

    Mechalical or electrical engineering?

    which type of engineering, mechanical or electrical is the most difficult?
  39. marlon

    Intro to electrical engineering

    Hi you all i am looking for some introductory texts on electrical engineering...you know , how does an opamp work ,and so on ...anyone got some nice online courses ? marlon
  40. I

    I'm studying Electrical Engineering

    Hello everyone... As you can notice from my posts ! I'm a fresh to this forum. It's one of my first visits. There are bunch of topics in this forum and all I thought it was about physics...lol I didn't have time to take a look at the enormous posts and threads of this site. So, what do you...
  41. B

    High School Senior Seeking Advice on Electrical Engineering

    I'm a high school senior who is interested in engineering. I am taking Calculus and honors physics and earn solid grades. I am helpless :confused: when it comes to my future though. I have no idea what field to go into. I hear Electrical engineering has a good outlook but I have no idea...
  42. M

    Electrical engineering with photonics

    Is there anyone here who is into this field? What type of undergraduate degree did you get? I'm doing Electrical engineering with a computer science minor. Is this a good background for someone who would like to go into photonics? I'd love to go into the field of quantum computing...
  43. N

    Mathematics for electrical engineering

    Hi, I study electrical engineering. I have passed the exams of mathematics and I don't have classes of mathematics anymore. Although I have passed mathematical exams with high grades, I have forgotten many things since I don't learn these things separately. Actually a quick look at the notes is...
  44. B

    Exploring Electrical Engineering: Where to Start?

    Hi, It's my first year in electronic engineering. I wonder what I can do to begin working on electrical things even if I don't know anything about it? I don't know much about my job actually and want to create a hobby related to it so that I can like it in the future. How can I make a circuit...
  45. T

    How do u like Electrical Engineering

    I am thinking of becomming an electrical engineer and was wondering how everyone liked there job what kind of job do they have exactly and maybe what one could exspect for a salary in this field
  46. A

    Electrical Engineering help me

    For a robotics project i have to make an electrical circuit in which 5 light sensors need to light 5 corresponding LEDs.The LED must only turn on when the light sensors detect the infrared light from a laser pointer and afterwards must stay on permanently(assuming the battery is still...
  47. K

    Degree in electrical engineering

    I am in college to get a degree in electrical engineering. Of course the college knows best and thinks I should get a feel for mechanical engineering too! This is quiet annoying considering I am wasting many, MANY class hours with subjects I do not need. Has anybody else found this a terrible...
Back
Top