Electronics and Its Importance
What is Electronics ?
The branch of engineering which deals with current conduction through a vacuum or gas or semiconductor is known as electronics.
Electronics essentially deals with electronic devices and their utilization.
An electronic device is that in which current flows through a vacuum or gas or semiconductor.
Importance of Electronics
Electronics has gained much importance due to its numerous applications in industry.
The electronic devices are capable of performing the following functions :
- Rectification
- Amplification
- Control
- Generation
(i) Rectification :
The conversion of a.c. into d.c. is called rectification.
Electronic devices can convert a.c. power into d.c. power with very high efficiency. This is shown in fig.1 below.
Fig. 1
This d.c. supply can be used for charging storage batteries, field supply of d.c. generators, electroplating etc.
(ii) Amplification :
The process of raising the strength of a weak signal is known as amplification.
Electronic devices can accomplish the job of amplification and thus act as amplifiers as shown in fig.2 below.
Fig. 2
The amplifiers are used in a wide variety 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.
(iii) Control :
Electronic 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.
(iv) Generation:
Electronic devices can convert d.c. power into a.c. power of any frequency as shown in Fig. 3 below.
Fig. 3
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.
