Difference between Electrical and Electronics Engineering

Electrical engineering is an engineering branch that focuses on the generation, transmission, as well as distribution of electrical power. On the other hand, electronics engineering centers on design and development of electronic devices, circuits, and systems.

Electrical and electronics are often mistakenly used in place of each other. However, the two terms have different meanings. Let us understand the difference between electrical and electronics in detail in this article. 

Table of Contents

• Difference between Electrical and Electronics Engineering
• What is Electrical Engineering?
• Who can pursue electrical engineering?
• Subjects in Electrical Engineering
• Similarities between Electrical and Electronics Engineering
• What is electronics engineering?
• Who can pursue electronics engineering?
• Subjects in Electronics Engineering

Difference between Electrical and Electronics Engineering

Criteria	Electrical	Electronics
Scope	Study of electricity, electromagnetism, and large-scale power production and distribution.	Study, design, and application of electronic circuits and devices.
Applications	Heavy machinery, power generation systems, transformers, electric motors, power circuits, high-voltage transmission lines.	Devices like transistors, diodes, integrated circuits, radios, TVs, computers.
Scale	Macroscopic; high voltages and currents.	Microscopic; low voltages and currents.
Nature of Current	Primarily alternating current (AC). Direct current (DC) systems also included.	Primarily direct current (DC).
Components	Transformers, generators, motors, power lines, circuit breakers.	Resistors, capacitors, inductors, diodes, transistors, integrated circuits.
Fields of Study	Power engineering, control systems, electromagnetism.	Digital electronics, analog electronics, microelectronics, optoelectronics.

Let us now understand the difference between the two in a little more detail:

What is Electrical Engineering?

This field of engineering deals with the study of electricity, its equipment, devices and systems. On a broader level, it deals with the study of how electrical power is used for producing electrical energy and how its function can be regulated. This branch of engineering deals with the manipulation of electrical and electromagnetic phenomena to create useful products. 

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Who can pursue electrical engineering?

One can pursue electrical engineering in the following manner:

• After 10th: One can pursue a diploma for a period of 3 years.
• After 12th: One must have scored at least 50% marks in PCM/PCMB in aggregate from a recognized university. 

Subjects in Electrical Engineering

Subjects	Topics
Circuit Theory	Basic Circuit Elements (Resistors, Capacitors, Inductors) Kirchhoff’s Laws AC and DC Circuit Analysis Transient Analysis
Electromagnetic Fields and Waves	Maxwell’s Equations Electromagnetic Wave Propagation Transmission Lines Antennas
Digital Logic Design	Boolean Algebra Logic Gates and Circuits Sequential Logic (Flip-Flops, Counters) Digital System Design
Analog Electronics	Diodes and Transistors Amplifiers Oscillators Filters
Power Systems	Power Generation and Transmission Transformers Power Electronics (Converters, Inverters) Electric Machines (Motors and Generators)
Control Systems	Transfer Functions Feedback Control Stability Analysis PID Controllers
Signal Processing	Analog and Digital Signal Processing Fourier and Laplace Transforms Filters and Systems Sampling Theory
Communication Systems	Modulation and Demodulation Digital Communication Wireless Communication Information Theory
Microelectronics and Integrated Circuits	Semiconductor Physics VLSI Design Fabrication Techniques
Instrumentation and Measurement	Sensors and Transducers Measurement Techniques Data Acquisition Systems

Similarities between Electrical and Electronics Engineering

1. Foundational Principles: Both fields are rooted in the principles of electricity and electromagnetism. They both deal with the behavior and effects of electrons and electric charges.
2. Mathematics and Physics: Both disciplines require a strong foundation in mathematics (especially calculus, differential equations, and linear algebra) and physics (particularly electromagnetism).
3. Circuit Analysis: Both fields study the design and analysis of electrical circuits, whether they are simple resistive circuits, complex integrated circuits, or power distribution networks.
4. Components: Both electrical and electronics engineers work with basic components such as resistors, capacitors, inductors, transformers, and transistors.
5. Systems Approach: Engineers in both fields often adopt a systems approach, looking at how individual components interact within a larger system, whether it’s a power grid or a communication device.
6. Control Systems: Both fields study control systems, which are used to regulate and control various processes and systems, from large-scale power plants to tiny electronic devices.
7. Signal Processing: While electronics engineering might delve deeper into digital signal processing, both fields deal with the concepts of signals, systems, and the various methods to process and analyze them.
8. Software Usage: Both electrical and electronics engineers use similar software tools for design, simulation, and analysis, such as MATLAB, Simulink, and various CAD tools.
9. Overlap in Job Roles: In the professional world, the roles of electrical and electronics engineers often overlap. For instance, both might work on the design and testing of a new electronic product.
10. Education: Electrical and electronics engineering programs often share core courses, especially in the early years of study. Students might study both fields before specializing.
11. Safety and Standards: Engineers in both disciplines must adhere to safety standards and regulations when designing and implementing systems, given the potential hazards associated with electricity.
12. Research and Development: Both fields are at the forefront of technological advancements, with continuous research and development efforts driving innovations in areas like renewable energy, communication technologies, and automation.

What is electronics engineering?

Electronic Engineering is a sub-discipline of electrical engineering. This branch of engineering majorly focuses on the study, design and application of devices, electronic circuits and systems. Its primary focus is dealing with the effects and behaviour of electrons for developing devices, components, equipment and systems. 

Who can pursue electronics engineering?

One can pursue electrical engineering in the following manner:

• After 10th: One can pursue a diploma for a period of 3 years. Mathematics and Science are compulsory subjects.
• After 12th: One must have scored at least 50% marks with Physics and Mathematics as compulsory subjects. 

Subjects in Electronics Engineering

Subjects	Topics
Basic Electronics	Introduction to electronic components Analog and digital circuits Basic electronic principles
Digital Electronics	Study of digital circuits Logic gates Flip-flops Multiplexers Decoders Digital design
Analog Electronics	Analysis and design of analogue circuits Operational amplifiers Oscillators Filters
Microprocessors and Microcontrollers	Microprocessor architecture Assembly language programming Interfacing
Electronic Devices and Circuits	Semiconductor Devices Transistors FETs and their applications in circuits
Communication Systems	Basics of analog and digital communication Modulation techniques Transmission and reception
Signal Processing	Analog and digital signal processing techniques Fourier and Laplace transforms Filtering
VLSI Design	Very-Large-Scale Integration (VLSI) design CMOS technology Digital integrated circuit design
Embedded Systems	Design and development of embedded systems using microcontrollers and FPGAs
RF and Microwave Engineering	High-frequency circuits Antennas Wave propagation Microwave Components
Control Systems	Automatic control principles Feedback systems Stability Control techniques
Optoelectronics	Devices that interact with light, including LEDs, photodiodes, and lasers.
Power Electronics	Design and analysis of converters, inverters, and drives.
Computer Architecture and Organization	Computer hardware CPU design Memory systems I/O
Robotics and Automation	Robotics Sensors Actuators Automation systems
Integrated Circuit Design	Design and analysis of analog and digital ICs.
Electromagnetic Theory	Electromagnetic fields Waves Applications