DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ELECTRONIC AND ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING

"Without electricity, there can be no art," said Nam June Paik, and that couldn't be more true when it comes to electrical engineering. It's where technology and creativity collide, making it an art form in itself. Electricity is the energy that powers modern art in all its forms. To really excel in this field, diving into electrical engineering is a must. But when it’s time to choose, many students find themselves confused between electrical and electronic engineering. This blog will help clear up the differences between the two, giving you a better idea of which path might be right for you.

What is Electrical Engineering?

Electrical engineering is all about the design and application of systems, machinery, and equipment that use electricity, electronics, and electromagnetism. Electrical engineers dive into a wide range of topics, from system modeling and power engineering to the operation of electrical machines and energy conversion for motors and generators.

They also get hands-on with electronic and digital design, digital communication systems, and even web-based computing. Essentially, electrical engineering covers a broad spectrum, ensuring that all these elements work together seamlessly in the technologies we use every day.

What is Electronic Engineering?

Electronic engineering, a branch of electrical engineering, focuses on designing and developing electronic circuits and devices. It involves working with components like resistors, capacitors, and inductors to make everything function smoothly. This field draws on electrical engineering principles and techniques, including modeling, circuit analysis, fabrication, and testing, to create and refine the electronic systems and devices we rely on every day. Whether it's the latest gadgets or complex systems, electronic engineering is all about bringing these ideas to life.

To put it simply, you can think of electrical engineering as the "father" of the field, while electronic engineering is like the "son."

Major differences between Electrical and Electronic Engineering

● Application

Electrical engineering focuses on heavy machinery and systems like power generation, transformers, electric motors, power circuits, and high-voltage transmission lines. On the other hand, electronic engineering is all about smaller-scale devices such as transistors, diodes, integrated circuits, as well as radios, TVs, and computers.

● Scale of Study

Electrical engineering is macroscopic, dealing with high voltages and currents and covering expansive systems. In contrast, electronics is microscopic, focusing on low voltages and currents, and involves specialized, smaller-scale devices.

● Field of Study

Electrical engineering focuses on power engineering, control systems, and electromagnetism. On the other hand, electronic engineering dives into digital electronics, analog electronics, microelectronics, and optoelectronics.

● Concepts

Electrical engineers focus on analog concepts like voltage, current, and power. They design high-voltage transformers, power amplifiers, and other infrastructure for power generation. On the other hand, electronic engineers lean towards digital concepts such as switches, databases, and logic gates, working on things like digital circuits and microelectronics.

Electrical and electronic engineering often overlap, leading to some confusion about their distinctions. People frequently use these terms interchangeably without realizing the differences. However, it's important to note that electrical engineering is a broad field encompassing various specializations, including electrical engineers, electronics engineers, and microelectronics engineers.

Remember that all electronic devices are also electrical devices, but not all electrical devices are electronic.

Similarities between Electrical and Electronics Engineering

Electrical and electronics engineers often collaborate on design projects to develop new products or improve existing ones. Both types of engineers may work together. Hence there are many instances where they overlap each other. Career wise and academics wise as well.

#Foundation

At the core of both electrical and electronic engineering courses are the fundamental principles of electricity and electromagnetism. These concepts lay the groundwork for everything you’ll learn and do in these fields.

#Job Roles

When it comes to job roles, electrical and electronic engineers often find their responsibilities overlapping. For instance, both might be involved in designing and testing a new electronic product, showing just how closely related these fields can be.

#Maths and Physics

Strong foundations in mathematics —like calculus, differential equations, and linear algebra—and physics, particularly electromagnetism, are key to both electrical and electronic engineering. These subjects are essential for mastering the complexities of both fields.

#Salary

The average starting salary for freshers in electrical and electronic engineering in India is up to ₹5 lakh per annum, with minimal difference between the two fields.

Wrapping up,

Now that you’ve got an idea of the differences between electrical and electronics engineering, you’ll see that electrical engineering covers a broader spectrum and electronic engineering is more specialized. If you’re certain that electronics design and development are your thing, then electrical engineering is a great choice to get you there. But if your interest lies more in the study of electrical power and its various applications, then electrical engineering is definitely the best path for you.