Electricity and Electronics

Electricity

We see examples of electricity in nature in the form of lightning and static electricity. Under certain circumstances, when two objects come into contact with each other, electrons may move from one object to another, which leaves an excess of positive charge on one material, and an equal negative charge on the other one. When the materials are separated, they retain this charge imbalance. Subsequently, if you touch the object with the excess of positive charge, it gets discharged through your body to the earth, giving you a brief and very minor jolt, which is one form of electricity, known as static electricity.

Electricity is required to run most modern devices and appliances. Electrical appliances and devices usually convert electricity into some other form of energy, such as mechanical energy (such as in turning a motor to run a washing machine, air conditioner, and many others) and heat energy (such as in a water heater or cooking stove or in a light bulb, which further converts the heat to light).

The electricity that we can use to run appliances is not naturally available and must be generated through some means. There are several fundamental methods to convert other forms of energy into electrical energy. The oldest and still is the most widely used by rotating a magnet inside a coil of wire or rotating a coil of wire around a magnet, which causes the electrons in the wire to flow and create an electrical current. This approach converts kinetic energy (the energy of motion) into electrical energy, and the machines that do this are known as generators.

The mechanical rotation of the magnets can be achieved by placing them in the path of flowing water or air or by using heat energy to generate steam which can then force the rotation.

The other options include the conversion of chemical or light energy to electricity using the effect of chemical reactions. It is how electricity is generated in batteries.

Electricity is generated by large organizations that can install and manage large generators near a source of water or airflow or a heat energy generation source. The generated electricity is then transmitted over wires from the generators to our homes through a complex distribution system.

Electronics

Electronics is the branch of science that deals with controlling the flow of electrons (electricity). Using various properties of matter, electronic components can selectively resist or allow the flow, switch the direction of the flow and store electrical charge.

These properties have allowed the creation of several devices we use today, such as radios, televisions, computers, and many others. Electronic devices generally operate using significantly lower levels of voltage and current compared to electrical appliances. Electronic components such as transistors, diodes, integrated circuits, resistors, and capacitors, are embedded in electrical appliances to add some features to them, such as indicators, timers, alarms, and so on.

The main functional difference between electrical and electronic circuits is that electrical circuits have no decision-making capability, which electronic circuits do. An electric circuit solely powers machines with electricity. However, an electronic circuit can decide what to do with the power.

Most modern appliances use a combination of electronic and electrical circuitry. A washing machine has an electrical circuit comprising a plug socket, fuse, on/off switch, heater, and motor that rotates the drum. The desired wash cycle and temperature are entered by the user using a control panel. These instructions are interpreted by electronic circuits, which have been designed and programmed to understand user choices based on each button press. When the electronic circuit has interpreted these commands, it sends signals to the electrical circuit to operate the heater and motor to heat and rotate the drum for the required time.

Most electronic components are significantly small and require small direct current (DC) voltages. A single microprocessor, which will fit on the end of your finger, may contain hundreds or thousands of tiny components. Electrical components tend to be larger and use alternating current (AC) voltages. Most electronic components operate on 3-12 volts DC, and electrical appliances require 110-240 volts AC.

Some products, such as computers, have far more electronic components than electrical ones. Large industrial sites, such as factories or power stations, however, have far more electrical components.

Electromagnetic Force

A force can be defined as the push or pull on an object that causes it to change its state of rest or uniform motion. There are four fundamental forces in nature, namely Gravitational force, Strong force, Weak force, and Electromagnetic force. These forces prevent the drifting of matter in the universe and help keep it together. Gravitational force is the force that attracts any two pieces of matter in nature. It is an extremely weak force, and therefore its effect is not noticed except at planetary levels. The best known gravitational force that we all experience continuously is gravity. The gravitational force is exerted by the earth on all other objects revolving around and resided in it. Strong and Weak forces are sub-atomic level forces responsible for holding together the nucleus of an atom and for radioactive decay.

This force, which is relevant to the generation of electricity, is generated through an interaction between magnetic and electric fields, which are interrelated. The presence of an electric charge, which can be either positive or negative, that further produces an electric field. And the motion of these electric charges produces a magnetic field. All objects can have both an electric and a magnetic field. However, depending on their composition, the fields may be too weak to have any effect or strong enough to contribute to generating an electromagnetic force.