Electrical Circuits in Engineering

Electrical circuits are at the heart of countless technologies that we use every day, from telecommunications networks to the exterior lights and complex electronics in cars. Engineers of all types need to have a firm understanding of how electrical circuits are designed and how they work in order to plan and develop projects that improve our lives.

Understanding Energy, Circuits, and Electricity

An electrical circuit is a pathway that allows electricity to flow from a power source to a device. Similar to how water flows from a higher point to a lower one, electricity flows naturally from where there’s a high level of electrical energy to where there’s a lower one. Engineers use circuits to direct the flow of electricity to where it’s needed, powering everything from light bulbs to supercomputers.

Electronic Circuit Types

Circuits are classified into three main types based on their configuration: series, parallel, and series-parallel. A series circuit has all of the components connected on one straight path, while parallel circuits include multiple parallel paths. This allows you to shut off the power to one device while leaving the rest of the devices in the circuit on. A series-parallel circuit combines elements of both into a complex configuration, allowing for more precise control of the electrical current in different parts of the circuit.

Circuits can also be defined by the types of signals they carry. Analog circuits carry a continuous signal that can vary in voltage. Digital circuits carry more discrete signals with a voltage that’s either high or low, corresponding to the 1’s and 0’s of digital data. And mixed-signal circuits are a hybrid of both, combining analog and digital circuitry. These are most useful in situations where you need to be able to convert analog signals to digital ones or vice versa.

Circuit Components

The basic components of a circuit are a conductor (most commonly a wire), a power source (like a battery or a wall outlet), and a load (a device that uses electricity). Common types of loads include lights, motors, and electronic components like transistors and computer chips. Resistors are also a type of load, but rather than being devices that we see and use directly, resistors exist in a circuit to moderate the voltage being carried by converting some of the electrical energy into heat.

Industry Applications in Telecommunications and Digital Audio

In the telecommunications industry, electrical circuits are used to process and transmit information across large distances. This information may be carried directly through a circuit, but circuits also power devices that can control and manipulate the signal. For instance, amplifiers are electrical devices that strengthen a signal so that it can travel farther. Circuits can also convert analog signals into digital ones, improving the clarity and fidelity of audio or video information.

Aerospace Industry Applications

Electrical circuits power a wide range of crucial functions and devices in the aerospace industry, from flight control systems that allow the crew to maneuver their aircraft to navigation systems that guide their travels. Circuits are also part of the communication systems that aircraft use to speak with controllers on the ground and the devices and systems that are used to monitor things like the engine temperature and fuel pressure.

Applications in the Automotive Industry

Land-based transportation relies on electrical circuits as well. Modern cars include advanced computer-driven systems that monitor how the engine functions, keep track of fluid levels and oil life, automatically adjust the brakes when the car starts to skid, turn on the headlights when it gets dark outside, and even warn us when the vehicle strays outside of its lane. Circuits also power helpful and enjoyable features in cars like navigation systems and even the radio.

• • Understanding Electric Circuits
  • What Are Electric Circuits?
  • Circuit Components and Types of Circuits
  • Electrical Components and How They Work
  • What Are Series and Parallel Circuits?
  • The Difference Between Analog and Digital Electronics
  • Electrical Components and Circuits in Radios
  • Automotive Electrical Circuits and Wiring
  • How Automotive Electrical Systems Work
  • Aircraft Electrical Systems
  • How Electrical Systems Work on Aircraft
  • Electrical Engineering: How Engineers Use Circuits

This page was last updated by Marc Gregory