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. M

    Solving 2D FEM Error with Maxwell Version 17

    Hi, I am working on Maxwell version 17. I have a simple motor to analysis 2D FEM. However, when I analyze the model, I see this error. "Maxwell2d solver, process solver2d error: Internal Solver Error: 'Transient solver handles only isotropic conductivity!'. (7:07:10 PM Apr 16, 2018)" I am...
  2. Muhammad Danish

    Current Dividing in an Electrical Circuit

    A circuit contains a 7.5V d.c power supply and three resistors. The total resistance of the circuit is 30 ohms. Why will the largest current in the 18 ohm resistor? As far as I know is that the smallest current will be in 60 ohm resistor because it has the maximum resistance. Please explain...
  3. B

    Analogy for Electrical potential

    When the eletctric field was defined I could totally relate to E is like g in mechanics. But for the electric potential I don't know. What would be equivalent analogy?
  4. srinaath

    Definite purpose and general purpose contactors

    I came across a contactor catalog saying "Definite purpose". Then tried to figure out the types of contactor. Came across definite purpose and general purpose. What is meant by definite purpose contactor and general purpose contactor? On what basis can i choose definite purpose?
  5. doctor_cat

    Electrical conductivity of liquid argon

    Dear friends, does anyone know if there exists any study about electrical conductivity of liquid argon? Thank you in advance for any suggestion.
  6. Dan8420

    Schools Electrical Engineering Undergrad - WVU vs. Pitt

    Hey all, I am currently torn between West Virginia University (WVU) and University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) as far as school choice goes for my undergrad in Electrical Engineering. From everything I am reading online, Pitt is the better school academically, but I would like some input from some...
  7. Guidestone

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  8. C

    What does electrical PE turn into when charges attract?

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  9. B

    Engineering Short term training in Europe/Asia for electrical engineers

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  10. _maxim_

    Making a system with mobile electrical contacts

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  11. Gopalkrishna

    A single wire electrical energy transmission....

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  12. K

    Other Undergraduate research or thesis topics in electrical power

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  13. deckart

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  14. Tjcarney

    Programs Applied Math or Electrical Engineering (Active Duty Military)

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  15. Cheesycheese213

    How to do electrical conductivity tests?

    << Thread moved from a technical forum, so no HH Template is shown >> Our teacher gave us a lab, and we have to write a procedure on how to test the electrical conductivity of multiple substances. However, on the materials, all that was written was "electrical conductivity tester", which I'm...
  16. F

    Extrema of electrical potential

    Homework Statement A charge of 2 C is located at the origin. Two charges of −1 C each are located at the points (1, 1, 0) and (−1, 1, 0). If the potential φ is taken to be zero at infinity (as usual), then it is easy to see that φ is also zero at the point (0, 1, 0). It follows that somewhere...
  17. CrazyCrux

    Question about Electrical Energy

    I know that energy cannot be created nor destroyed. However, I also know that voltage is basically electrical potential energy. So, how can a transformer exist? In terms of classical mechanics, in order to increase the PE of say, a ball, you must lift it (expending energy) higher above the...
  18. J

    Movement by electrical induction

    So, when you bring a charged object near for example a soda can, I get that the soda can gains a positive side and a negative side, but the can also moves towards the charged object, why is that? Is it because if you put a negative charged object near the soda can the side of the can nearest to...
  19. H

    Enqiry about an electrical motor's power

    Any clue to to show that it is 10kW? Please tell me where i went wrong and thank you. I tried and i just couldn't figure it out.
  20. M

    Electromagnet Design for Separating Ferrous Material from an Ore Mixture

    Good day I've been the task of designing an electromagnet to remove ferrous material from ore mixture. I've calculated the flux density require to remove the particle from underneath a burden depth of 400mm; which is 792.7177 Gauss. (Force index is: 1.5710*10^6 G^2/m) However what I've been...
  21. srinaath

    Temperature rise calculation for electrical devices

    There are 2 types of temp rise measurement for electrical devices, 1)resistance type 2) thermocouple type (direct measurement) My query is 1) which method is superior and please explain me the reason. 2) Which gives higher value of measurement? Thanks in advance.
  22. Ferdous Hossain

    Can I covert magnetic energy to electrical energy?

    Hello Before I start, I would like to clarify that I know Perpetual Motion is not possible & Energy can neither be created nor destroyed, But Can be change from one form to another. That's exactly my point. If I could convert energy from one to another, then why couldn't I just harness energy...
  23. klm_spitifre

    Electrical field near infinite, charged rod

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  24. J

    Transient Response of Electrical Network

    Homework Statement Homework Equations In Capacitance current leads voltage In Inductance current lags voltage For oscillations R = 0 3. The Attempt at a Solution Since current is leading voltage in above question, impedance is capacitive. Book answer is D for both. How? And for 3rd...
  25. Y

    Uniform Electrical potential energy

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  26. hhhp8cec1

    Balanced forces - Electrical and Gravitational forces

    Homework Statement Lets say I have two objects, with the same mass, m, and charge (+q), with a distance r between them. They repel each other due to electrical force, but they are attracted due to gravitational force. My questions is: What should be their mass m such that they feel no net...
  27. F

    How does electrical current have energy?

    How does electrical current have energy? (when electrons move very slowly through circuit)? (mentor note: removed cross link)
  28. G Cooke

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  29. F

    What type of energy does electrical current have?

    I'm interested in what kind of energy has electric current ?. For everything I taught in school should have kinetic energy because electrons are on a certain potential within the electric field when the switch is closed then the electrons move and the electric current is "generated" which then...
  30. C

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  31. T

    Why we say that electrical energy is power over time p x t

    Greeting . how electrical energy can be power over time when electrical energy is actually potential energy . from a lot of sources (wiki ,study.com..) comes the information that electric energy is potential or kinetic energy in other sources is said to be electric power p x t so i am...
  32. H

    Find the current I in this electrical circuit

    Homework Statement Homework Equations V = I.R The Attempt at a Solution 6 ohm and 3 ohm are series = b Then b pararel to 9ohm = c = total resistance b = 9ohm c = 9/2 ohm I = V/R I = 9.6/c I = 2,13 A Can you help me? Is it right? My friend's answer is 0,8
  33. G

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    Hi all, An interesting old device for you, circa 1984. It comes in a nicely varnished plywood cabinet: To restore it, I had to do some cabinetry to fix some broken seams, and a relay had gone bad inside. All working now. On the inner lid is a sheet with full operating instructions. On the...
  34. S

    Engineering Electrical Machine - Shunt DC Motor Problem

    Hi guys, can someone please have a look at the following problem that I am struggling with; An 8.25 kW shunt DC motor is supplied with a terminal DC voltage of 300 V. The armature resistance of the motor Ra is 0.25 ohms, and the field resistance Rf is 40 ohms. The field winding consists of 1500...
  35. P

    Need to Find the Total Resistance

    Given the circuit, I am supposed to find the total resistance, but I am unsure of what to do without having a voltage or current source with an internal resistor.
  36. Y

    Electrical Engineering - Buck Converter, Prevent Saturation

    Homework Statement I need help with part b- A buck regulator is supplied from a 12VDC source and outputs 5VDC at 4 A with a PWM switching frequency is 100 kHz. Answer the following then: a- Determine the continuous conduction mode inductance (L_CCM). b- Compute the inductance for the...
  37. D

    Engineering Electrical Engineer Seeking Career Advice

    I’m hoping that I can find some career advice that can shine some light on my situation…I served in the Navy where my primary duty was working with the ships radar and communication systems as well as providing support with other electronic warfare systems. When I discharged from the Navy I got...
  38. R

    Determine electrical power generated by changing B-field through a loop

    Homework Statement A circular loop of radius a and resistance R is placed in a changing magnetic field so that the field is perpendicular to the plane of the loop. The magnetic field varies with time as B(t) = B_0 * e^(-t) where B_0 is a constant. Determine the electrical power in the circuit...
  39. C

    I Electrical Current Repelling Magnets Due to Relativity

    I recently watched this Varitasium video where he explains the magnetic field due to a current carrying wire. In the video he explains how what we see and describe as the magnetic field produced by a current carrying wire is actually just a electric force caused by the an imbalance of charges...
  40. D

    Can low Resistance affect the torque output of an electrical motor

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  41. C

    Underground cable with electrical short

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  42. Q

    Electrical displacement: doubts

    Hi. Maybe you can help me. I am reading history of physics, especially the moment when Maxwell completes Ampere's law with the displacement current. My doubts are about propagation in a vacuum. 1. Can I say that in an electromagnetic wave there are several undulating fields, one of them the...
  43. T

    How does an electric motor convert electrical energy to mechanical energy?

    how does electric motor convert electrical energy to mechanical energy. Hello I do not understand the following electric power is P = V * I electric motors operate on the principle of repulsion and attraction of magnetism. What confuses me where that power ends because as far as I know, the...
  44. mktsgm

    Electrical current question -- electrons moving through wires....

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  45. labentzel

    Programs Chemical Engineering vs. Electrical Engineering Major

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  46. J

    Prerequisite Required for a Course in Electrical Machines

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  47. H

    A Why electrical polarization can be expressed as Berry phase?

    Could we calculate (linear) electric polarizability from Berry phase?
  48. J

    Insulation monitoring in some marine isolated electrical systems

    Hi, In some marine isolated electrical systems I saw that only one phase insulation resistace is monitored. Why? If something happens on other phases I will have no information about that or...? Regards!
  49. H

    How Do Electrical Meters Like Voltmeters, Ohmmeters, and Ammeters Work?

    Recently I asked why with a multimeter you should not measure the resistance of a fuse in a car while there was still power reaching the fuse but why it was ok to measure the voltage. I was told the way resistance is measured is a small current is sent by the meter for the calculation to be...
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