Electronics

Electronics is a field that is closely related to electricity. The main difference is that electronics leverages electrical charges (or the flow of charges) to do more than just converting them into another form of energy. Using some other properties of matter, electronic components can control the flow of charges by increasing, decreasing, stoping, or reversing the flow, and so on.

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.

Differences

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.