Electrical engineering is the field that brings power and technology to life. From the lights in our homes to the cell phones in our pockets, electrical engineers design the system that keeps our world connected. No matter where we live on the planet, we all rely on electricity every day, which makes this field both universal and essential.
The purpose of the glossary is to explain many of the terms used in electrical engineering. Every definition has been carefully checked using the Virtual Writing Tutor to ensure it is clear and accurate.
Banana Plugs
noun
A single-wire electrical connector used for joining wires to equipment, such as speakers, and is named for its elongated shape that resembles a banana.
Example: The multimeter leads were fitted with banana plugs for easy connection.
fr: Cables bananes
Capacitor
noun
a device used to store an electric charge, consisting of one or more pairs of conductors separated by an insulator.
Example: Due to the induced noise, a low pass filter is constructed by connecting a CAPACITOR across R1 in the amplifiers feedback loop.
fr: condensateur
Diode
noun
A semiconductor device with two terminals, typically allowing the flow of current in one direction only.
Example: Another technology in which manufacturers are heavily investing research resources is that of Light Emitting DIODE (LED) displays.
fr: Diode
Fuse
noun
a safety device consisting of a strip of wire that melts and breaks an electric circuit if the current exceeds a safe level.
Example: A LED stop working when a fuse melts.
fr: Fusible
Generator
noun
A dynamo or similar machine for converting mechanical energy into electricity.
Example: The GENERATOR requests a parameter called 'samples per frame'.
fr: Générateur
Inductor
noun
A component in an electric or electronic circuit which possesses inductance.
Example: Critically Damped System Since the overall system has to be second order and the overall system already has an integrator onboard, then the system for the controller and INDUCTOR has to be first order.
fr: Inducteur
Motors
noun
A machine, especially one powered by electricity or internal combustion, that supplies motive power for a vehicle or for some other device with moving parts.
Example: Induction MOTORS are robust giving good reliability.
fr: Moteurs
Multimeter
noun
an instrument designed to measure electric current, voltage, and usually resistance, typically over several ranges of value.
Example: The random error in the reading of the stopping voltage was estimated through the accuracy of the MULTIMETER.
fr: Multimètre
Oscilloscope
noun
a device for viewing oscillations, as of electrical voltage or current, by a display on the screen of a cathode ray tube.
Example: The amplifier is tested prior to connection of the bridge circuit, by connecting the amplifier to the OSCILLOSCOPE.
fr: Oscilloscope
Power supply
noun
An electrical device that takes electrical power from a source, converts it to the specific voltage, current, and frequency needed by a load (like a computer or motor), and delivers it in a controlled manner
Example: The BL-730 module requires a 5 V POWER SUPPLY, and draws a maximum of 120 mA.
fr: Alimentation électrique
Relay
noun
an electrical device, typically incorporating an electromagnet, which is activated by a current or signal in one circuit to open or close another circuit.
Example: The engineer used a relay to control the motor with a low-voltage signal.
fr: Relais
Resistor
noun
a device having a designed resistance to the passage of an electric current.
Example: Low-pass filter design To overcome the problem of noise within the circuit a simple low pass filter is used, by connecting a capacitor across the feedback RESISTOR
fr: résistance
Sensors
noun
A sensor is a device that detects a change in its environment and responds to it by producing an output, often an electrical signal.
Example: The Cognizant Center employs some advanced security features including a proximity card for primary access, biometric authorization using fingerprints and a third level security system which uses infra-red SENSORS.
fr: Capteurs
Switch
noun
A device for making and breaking the connection in an electric circuit.
Example: Here, it can be shown that when S1 is pressed cylinder A is extended and when it extends fully, a SWITCH 1S2 is triggered which signals for cylinder B to extend causing the stamping action.
fr: Interrupteur
Thermistor
noun
An electrical resistor whose resistance is greatly reduced by heating, used for measurement and control.
Example: Discussion The calibration of the platinum film thermometer and THERMISTOR allowed the relationships between temperature and resistance to be quantified for each instrument.
fr: Thermistance
Transformer
noun
An apparatus for reducing or increasing the voltage of an alternating current.
Example: This sensor is a TRANSFORMER which comprises a single primary winding and two identical secondary windings wound on a tubular ferromagnetic former, it is shown as Fig. 5.
fr: Transformateur
Transistor
noun
A semiconductor device with three connections, capable of amplification in addition to rectification.
Example: The feature size of a TRANSISTOR, as we have seen, has decreased from 10 microns in 1971 to 0.13 microns in 2000.
fr: Transistor
Voltmeter
noun
An instrument for measuring electric potential in volts
Example: A VOLTMETER was set up across the precise resistor (as seen in Figure 2) for this purpose.
fr: Voltmètre
Wi-Fi
noun
A facility allowing computers, smartphones, or other devices to connect to the internet or communicate with one another wirelessly within a particular area.
Example: Various attempts have been made to attempt to minimise such inequalities in access, for example, by targeting isolated villages using WI-FI equipped buses.
fr: Wi-Fi
Wire
noun
Metal drawn out into the form of a thin flexible thread or rod.
Example: Ideally, therefore, such a system will be designed and manufactured for a reasonable maximum length thus maximizing the speed of WIRE drawing.
