Introduction to Circuit Analysis

Course Description:

Voltage, current, resistance, Ohm’s law, Kirchhoff’s laws, resistance combinations, and Thevenin’s, Norton’s, and superposition theorems are studied. DC and AC circuits are studied and utilized with basic AC terminology described. The performance of ideal transformers, capacitors and inductors, and first order RLC circuits are investigated. Fundamental analog electronic circuits are utilized in the lecture and laboratory to enhance the understanding of basic laws and theorems. Recognize and apply basic electrical/electronics units and terminology, including prefix  notation, charge, current, voltage, resistance, conductance, energy, power, capacitance and inductance. Utilize the scientific calculator to solve electronics circuit problems. Identify and apply electronic devices and their corresponding schematic symbols, including voltage and current sources (AC and DC), resistors, potentiometers, transformers, capacitors, inductors, and, in the laboratory, diodes, light emit emitting diodes, bipolar junction transistors, and op amps. Calculate node voltage, convert DC voltage sources to bubble notation, and distinguish between electrical, common, and chassis ground. Distinguish between real and ideal voltage and current sources and properly model real sources. Identify and calculate basic parameters and sketch the sine, triangle, and square wave. State, apply and discuss the historical significance of the laws and rules of electrical/electronic circuit analysis including: Ohm’s law, Kirchhoff’s Voltage and Current Laws, the power rule, the voltage divider rule, and the current divider rule. State and apply maximum transfer loading effects in transferring maximum voltage, current, or power. Calculate ideal transformer parameters of primary and secondary reflected resistances, voltages and currents. Apply the principles of circuits analysis to series circuits, parallel circuits, series-parallel circuits, and basic analog electronic circuits; principles include the use of resistor reduction, source conversion, superposition, Thevenin’s Theorem, and Norton’s Theorem. Use the results of the appropriate first-order differential equation and the initial steady state device models of the capacitor and inductor to analyze DC switching RC and RL circuits. Practice circuit construction (interpreting schematics) and use the digital multi-meter, the oscilloscope, and RCL meter to perform electronic measurements and recognize meter loading impacts. Apply basic laws to electronics circuits.

Outcomes:

This was my first class in the electrical and electronic world and it was very interesting and rewarding. I feel I understand the world around me a little better "electron".

Sample work:

Lab8 – Black Box 3 Design

The purpose of this lab was to learn about building a circuit that produces exactly 1.3V

Problem statement: Using at least 3 equal value resistors (in the Black Box) design a circuit that produces an output voltage of 1.3V. Then adjust R1 so that the output voltage is exactly 1.3V.

Equipment needed:

 1 – Digital Multimeter

1 – Elvis II

5 – Standard Resistors

1 – 5 Kohm pot

Observations:

This lab showed that it is possible to intentionally manipulate a circuit to achieve a desired voltage through a combination of resistor values, configuration (series or parallel), and or using variable resistors.