By Perry Henderson
The modern world is shaped by the field of electrical engineering. Electrical engineering is one of the fundamental areas or branches of modern engineering. Electrical engineering as a field is primarily focused on the application of electricity, electromagnetism, and the closely related sub-field of electronics. Every aspect of modernity is affected by the mathematics and practical aspects of electrical engineering. From newer technologies such as electric vehicles to advanced military rf/microwave systems, electrical engineers play a significant role in the creation, development, and implementation of these complex electrical systems.
The history of electrical engineering can be found largely in the 19th century with names such as Michael Faraday and James Clerk Maxwell. Since this period of history, the field has continued to expand in both depth and complexity. The domain of electrical engineering includes the design of circuits, power generation, signal processing, control systems, distribution, and telecommunications. Electrical engineering has strong ties to mathematics and physics, especially the domains of Fourier analysis and electromagnetic theory based in the work of Maxwell. Engineers and students of electrical engineering must have a strong conceptual understanding of how to take theory and blend them to applications that can be useful for humanity.
As stated earlier, physics and mathematics are the core domain of tools that the electrical engineer wields every day. The modeling of circuits and other electromagnetic behavior is described and predicted to a high degree of accuracy with mathematics. Physics is significant in providing the underlying physical concepts and principles that guide the design of systems that are electrical in nature. The core concepts of electrical engineering are related to resistance, current, and voltage. These concepts come into play with the formula that all electrical and electronics enthusiasts should know: Ohm’s Law. The concepts of semiconductors are extremely important to modern computer technology. The transistor and the diode are arguably the most important components in the development of how the world processes data and the various technological breakthroughs such as AI and the internet.
Electrical engineering is an incredibly diverse and vast field of engineering. Electrical engineers may be employed in areas of power distribution, where they may design the needed infrastructure to bring electricity into houses and important facilities. Electrical and electronics systems engineers may aid in developing new data centers that will aid in the growth of the AI (Artificial Intelligence) sector. Engineers that work in telecom may aid in building networks or systems for satellite communications which are significant for how our society communicates. The field will continue to evolve especially with the exponential growth in machine learning, deep learning, and AI.
Names such as Faraday, Tesla, and Maxwell are names that have shaped the modern world. The early pioneers formed the early theoretical and practical knowledge that is at the core of the push towards electric vehicles, solar power systems, advances in satellite capability, smart devices, grid efficiency performance, and aerospace technology. Electrical engineering professionals and the hobbyist must understand the history, theory, technology, and future direction of this exciting and diverse field of engineering.
© Copyright 2025 Perry Henderson
The Amateur Electrical Engineer 
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