Electronics Fundamentals 4A and 4B

The first class for electronics majors. Atomic theory, voltage, resistance, current, energy and power, Ohm's law, series-parallel circuits, voltage and current dividers. Network theorems and applications of Kirchhoff's laws. Voltage and current sources, conductors, resistors, batteries, magnetism, D.C. characteristics of capacitors and inductors. Computer aided schematic capture and circuit analysis.

Construction of basic DC circuits for the study of Ohm’s law, series and parallel, network theorems including Kirchhoffs Law, superposition, mesh, Thevenin’s and Norton’s. Wiring practice from schematics. Use of laboratory instruments including analog and digital multimeters and power supplies. Computer aided schematic entry and circuit analysis.

Describe electricity fundamentals including atomic theory, law of charges, conductors, insulators, and semiconductors. Discuss safety and introduce OSHA manuals and regulations.
Calculate Ohms law parameters including voltage, current and resistance. Calculate power. Explain the definitions of voltage, current, resistance, and power. Describe ways to produce electricity. Compare wire sizes and types of cable. Given wire length and gauge, solve for wire resistance.
Series Circuits: Solve for the voltage across, current through, and power dissipated by elements in a series circuit. Diagram the 3 wire distribution system including hot, neutral and ground. Calculate the consequence of open neutral as applied to loads connected to a 3 wire distribution system. Examine and explain the operation of fuses and circuit breakers.
Parallel Circuits: Solve for the voltage across, current through, and power dissipated by elements in a parallel circuit. Draw schematic diagrams. Calculate the affect of short or open circuits.
Series-Parallel Circuits: Calculate the voltage across, current through, and power dissipated by elements in a series-parallel circuit. Calculate circuit parameters with various components shorted or opened. Generate schematic diagrams illustrating practical applications.
Kirchhoffs Laws: Utilize Kirchhoffs current and voltage laws to practice solving series-parallel circuits.
Voltage Dividers and Current Dividers: Utilize the voltage divider equation and current divider equation in solving series-parallel circuits. Calculate the affect of placing a load across a voltage divider.
Calculate Series-Parallel Circuits that include Potentiometers and Rheostats. Draw and describe the schematic notation used with potentiometers and rheostats. Calculate maximum power transfer. Calculate circuit parameters when using potentiometers and rheostats.
Direct Current Meters: Design a current meter and a voltmeter. Calculate the the loading affect on circuit parameters when placing current and voltmeters in a circuit.
Network Theories: Calculate the voltage across, current through, and power dissipated by each element in a dual power supply circuit. Solve circuit problems using Mesh and Simultaneous Equations.
Network Theories: Calculate the voltage across, current through, and power dissipated by each element in a dual power supply circuit using the superposition theorem and determine the internal resistance of voltage sources.
Calculate the voltage across, current through, and power dissipated by each element in a circuit. Calculate and compare an equivalent Thevenin constant voltage source to the original circuit.
Solve sample circuits using Norton’s theorem. Diagram a constant current source. Convert a constant current source to a constant voltage, and a constant voltage source to a constant current source.
Solve for the circuit parameters found in a Wheatstone bridge circuit using Thevenin's theorem. Design a thermometer using a thermistor in a Wheatstone bridge and calculate circuit values using Thevenin's theorem
Explain the DC characteristics of capacitors and inductors. Draw schematic diagrams that would generate transient response curves for capacitors and inductors and plot the curves.

Electronics 4B Course Outline

Discuss safety. Measure resistance using digital multimeters and determine resistance using the color code. Calculate resistor tolerance and compare to the color code value.
Voltage measurement: Set up a DC power supply and measure the output voltage. Connect batteries in series aiding and opposing, parallel, and series/parallel. Measure voltages across the battery systems. Draw battery symbols and note polarities. Show examples of battery types and discuss applications.
Ohms Law: Calculate and measure the current through various resistor values while supplying various voltage values to prove Ohm's Law. Plot curves of measured current and calculated power versus voltage for a given resistance.
Series Circuits: Calculate and measure the voltage across, current through, and resistance of elements in a series circuit. Plot voltage vs. current and power vs. voltage curves. Use a schematic capture and circuit analysis computer program to compare measured and calculated results.
Parallel Circuits: Calculate and measure the voltage across, current through, and (calculate the) power dissipated by elements in a parallel circuit. Use the parallel resistor equations to solve for total parallel resistance and compare to measured total resistance. Use a schematic capture and circuit analysis computer program to compare measured and calculated results.
Series-Parallel Circuits: Calculate and measuring the voltage across, current through, and (calculate the) power dissipated by elements in a series-parallel circuit. Solve for total parallel resistance and compare to measured total resistance. Use a schematic capture and circuit analysis computer program to compare measured and calculated results.
Kirchhoffs Laws: Build using a breadboard, a series-parallel circuit and measure parameters including voltage, current and resistance. Restate Kirchhoff's laws. Use a schematic capture and circuit analysis computer program to compare measured and calculated results.
Maximum Power Transfer: Measure, calculate, and chart maximum power transfer using circuit construction and computer aided circuit analysis software. Draw Potentiometer and Rheostat connections, calculate and measure circuit parameters.
Meters: Design and construct a DC current meter and a DC voltmeter. Prove their operation by taking circuit measurements. Calculate and Measure the loading affects of introducing current and voltmeters into a circuit. Safe connection of voltage and current measuring instruments.
Circuit Construction: Build a light emitting diode flasher circuit using an integrated circuit. Generate tones and view waveforms on an oscilloscope. Search the internet for tutorials related to the integrated circuit.
Network Theories: Calculate and build a DC circuit that is solved using Kirchhoffs laws. Measure circuit parameters to prove Kirchhoffs voltage and current laws. Use a schematic capture and circuit analysis computer program to compare measured and calculated results.
Superposition Theorem: Build a dual power supply DC circuit. Calculate and measure the DC parameters using the superposition theorem. Use a schematic capture and circuit analysis computer program to compare measured and calculated results.
Thevenin's Theorem: Build a circuit that illustrates Thevenin’s theorem. Measure and calculate circuit parameters. Use a schematic capture and circuit analysis computer program to compare measured and calculated results.
Bridge Circuits: Build a Wheatstone bridge circuit and measure circuit parameters. Use a schematic capture and circuit analysis computer program to compare measured and calculated results.
Capstone Project: Perform lab performance demonstration.