What is Electronics?

Electronics :

Electronics has hugely influenced the development of modern society. The identification of the electron in 1897, along with the subsequent invention of the vacuum tube which could amplify and rectify small electrical signals, inaugurated the field of electronics and the electron age.[2] Practical applications started with the invention of the diode by Ambrose Fleming and the triode by Lee De Forest in the early 1900s, which made the detection of small electrical voltages such as radio signals from an radio antenna possible with a non-mechanical device. The growth of electronics was rapid. And by the early 1920s, commercial radio broadcasting and communications were becoming widespread and electronic amplifiers were being used in such diverse applications as long distance telephony and the music recording industry.

Electronic devices are being used in almost all the industries for quality control and automation, they are fast replacing the present vast army of workers engaged in progressing and assembling in the factories. Great strides taken in the industrial applications of electronics during the recent years have demonstrated that this versatile tool can be of great importance in increasing production, efficiency and control.

The field of electronics is a branch of physics and electrical engineering that deals with the emission, behaviour and effects of electrons using electronic devices.

Electronicsuses active devices to control electron flow by amplification and rectification, which distinguishes it from classical electrical engineering, which only uses passive effects such as resistance, capacitance and inductance to control electric current flow.

However, the mastery of fundamentals can simplify the learning process to a great extent.

The branch of engineering which deals with current conduction through a vacuum or gas or semiconductor is known as electronics.

An electronic device is that in which current flows through a vacuum or gas or semiconductor. Such devices have valuable properties which enable them to function and behave as the friend of man today.

Importance.

Electronics has gained much importance due to its numerous applications in industry. The electronic devices are capable of performing the following function :

(1) Rectification.

The conversation of alternative current into derect current is called Rectification. Electronic devices can convert a.c. power storage batteries, field supply of d.c. generators, electroplating etc.

(2) Amplification.

The process of raising the strength of a weak signal is known as Amplification. Electronics devices can accomplish the job of ways. For example, an amplifier is used in a radio set where the weak signal is amplified so that it can be heard loudly. Similarly, amplifiers are used in public address system, television etc.

(3) Control.

Electronics devices find wide applications in automatic control. For example, speed of a motor, voltage across a refrigerator etc. can be automatically controlled with the help of such devices.

(4) Generation.

Electronics devices can convert d.c. power into a.c. power of any frequency. When performing this function, they are known as oscillators. The oscillators are used in a wide variety of ways. For example, electronic high frequency heating is used for annealing and hardening.

(5) Conversion of light into electricity.

Electronic devices can convert light into electricity. This conversion of light into electricity is known as photo-electricity. Photo-electric devices are used in Burglar alarms, sound recording on motion pictures ect.

(6) Conversion of electricity into light.

Electronic devices can convert electricity into light. This valuable property is utilised in television and radar.