4. EGR 214: Electric Circuits

4.1 Purpose of the Course

Circuit analysis is important to all fields of engineering. A clear trend has emerged in consumer products to merge both electronic and mechanical systems. Naturally, any engineer involved in the design of such products would need a knowledge of both the mechanical and electrical aspects of the design. This circuits course will cover the fundamentals involved in circuit analysis for both DC (Direct Current) and AC (Alternating Current). Towards the end of the course some useful devices (operational amplifiers) will be examined using the fundamentals in the first part of the course. There will be a number of laboratory experiments, and exposure to Computer Aided Circuit analysis tools.

4.2 Resources

There are a wealth of internet sites for electronics. The following is a short list of useful sites to try.

A number of good circuits books have been written, and many are available in bookstores and the library.

4.3 Evaluation

All work will be evaluated as follows,

i) A correct answer that is properly justified will receive a mark of 100%.

ii) An answer that is correct but not clearly justified may receive fewer marks.

iii) Any question that does not have a correct answer will receive a mark between 0% and 50%.

This marking scheme should encourage you to do it right the first time, and to find ways to verify your solutions.

See the laboratory guide for details of specific labs.

i) Read the laboratory outline before entering the lab and do any required calculations beforehand.

ii) Show up promptly at the beginning of the laboratory. Being late will only cost you.

iii) Take all required measurements and record them carefully.

iv) Always leave the lab in an equivalent or better state than you found it: failure to do so will result in penalties.

v) When not sure about a new instrument, ask.

vi) If you break something, bring it to the attention of the lab supervisor so that it may be fixed or replaced.

vii) Remember that a lab in not about marks, but about you getting to get hands on experience, and having time to explore physical phenomenon.

viii) Lab reports are to be neatly completed following normal report writing procatices.

ix) Try to work quickly at the start of the lab so you have time to explore the equipment at the end of the lab period.

A project will given in the later part of the course to be done on the students own time. This project will then be judged against the work of other students to determine a ranking, and thus marks.