difference electricals n electronics

mik3

Joined Feb 4, 2008
4,843
In electronics you study about semiconductors, transistors, diodes, resistors and every related component and you make analysis of such circuits. Also, you study digital electronics and how IC's are made. These are the basics about electronics.
In electrical studies, you learn about single and three phase circuits, DC and AC motors and power distribution systems.
 

Ratch

Joined Mar 20, 2007
1,070
sri_animesh,

electricals: No such word

electrical: Concerned with electricity.

electronics: Of or pertaining to electrons or to an electron.

Ratch
 

Dave

Joined Nov 17, 2003
6,969
electricals: No such word
In the UK, "electricals" is sometimes used loosely for describing "electrical consumer goods" (TVs, DVD players, etc). Don't know about elsewhere. A well known electrical retailer in the UK uses the slogun "We Live Electricals".

In a technical context it is a nonsense.

Dave
 

thingmaker3

Joined May 16, 2005
5,083
A quick internet search shows the term "electricals" in wide use throughout Europe, and also in Australia. Use is similar to what Dave has described for the UK.
 

scubasteve_911

Joined Dec 27, 2007
1,203
This is a valid question and is something that many do not understand. IEEE has answered this question as follows:

What is the difference between electrical and electronics engineering?
The number of differences between electrical and electronics engineering may vary, depending on the context in which the question is asked. Some distinctions which may exist in academe may not exist in the business world. There is also a significant amount of overlap, not only between electronics and electrical engineering, but with other engineering disciplines as well. Most notable are the overlaps between electronics and computer engineering and with electrical and mechanical engineering.

Electrical engineers generally deal with large-power applications, such as utility and industrial power systems, whereas electronics engineers deal with low-power systems such as computers and communications. Most work in electrical engineering makes use of knowledge of both electronics and electrical engineering. Power systems today are making increasing use of power electronics and digital controls for controlling power flow, and many electronic systems make use of milliwatt electro-mechanical components.

Most electrical/electronic engineering programs today focus on electronics engineering. A few programs offer courses in basic machine theory and transmission lines that provide the fundamentals of electrical engineering, while some of the larger universities offer programs in power systems engineering. With the rapid growth in information technology, digital control systems, and robotics, EEs must have a solid understanding of electricity and magnetism as well as the ability to continually update their knowledge of electrical/electronics, mechanical, and chemical systems.

Steve
 

KL7AJ

Joined Nov 4, 2008
2,229
This brings up some very interesting history. When it was first coined, "electronics" referred to electricity in non-conductors, i.e. "free" electrons...which at the time was synonymous with vacuum tubes.

There was a short-lived and related discipline called "ionics" which quickly evolved into the current field of plasma physics.

In America, the two disciplines are pretty much indistinguishable, but in much of Europe and Asia, the fields are still well-demarcated.

Eric
 

Dave

Joined Nov 17, 2003
6,969
There was a short-lived and related discipline called "ionics" which quickly evolved into the current field of plasma physics.

In America, the two disciplines are pretty much indistinguishable, but in much of Europe and Asia, the fields are still well-demarcated.
Ionics does tend to stray more into the electrochemical side of the subject with research interests in batteries, fuel cells, chemical sensors, electrochromism and the like.

Dave
 
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