Science, Technology, and Engineering

1. Branch of Physics Studying Materials and Their Electronic Properties:

The branch of physics that primarily deals with the study of materials and their electronic properties is Solid State Physics, which is often considered a subfield of Condensed Matter Physics. This field is indeed foundational to the development of microchips and processors used in smartphones.

Solid State Physics focuses on:

• The electronic structure of materials
• Electrical, magnetic, and optical properties of solids
• Semiconductor physics
• Quantum behavior in solid materials

This field laid the groundwork for the development of transistors, integrated circuits, and other semiconductor devices that are crucial for modern electronics, including smartphones.

2. Branch of Engineering for Designing Electronic Components:

The branch of engineering that focuses on designing and developing electronic circuits, communication systems, and power supplies for smartphones is Electrical Engineering, specifically the subfield of Electronic Engineering.

Electronic Engineering involves:

• Design of integrated circuits
• Development of communication systems (e.g., wireless technologies)
• Power management systems
• Signal processing
• Embedded systems design

Electronic engineers play a crucial role in developing the hardware components that make smartphones function.

3. Technology That Developed Smartphones:

Smartphones weren't developed by a single technology, but rather through the convergence of multiple technologies and innovations. Key technologies include:

• Mobile computing: Miniaturization of computer components
• Wireless communication: Cellular networks, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
• Touchscreen technology: Capacitive touch sensing
• Battery technology: Lithium-ion batteries
• Operating systems: iOS, Android
• App ecosystems: App stores and development platforms
• Internet technologies: Mobile web browsers, cloud computing
• Sensor technologies: GPS, accelerometers, gyroscopes

The development of smartphones has been an evolutionary process, building on advances in these various fields. The first widely recognized smartphone, the iPhone, was introduced by Apple in 2007, but it built upon earlier attempts at combining mobile phones with computer-like functionality.

It's worth noting that while these specific fields (Solid State Physics, Electronic Engineering) and technologies were crucial, the development of smartphones has been a highly interdisciplinary effort, involving contributions from many areas of science, engineering, and design.