Engineering Science

203. Electrical Systems  Elementary electrical concepts. Resistive networks. Nodal and mesh analysis. Dependent sources. Network theorems. Energy storing elements. Transient response of first and second order circuits. Sinusoidal excitation. Phasors. Alternating current steady state analysis. Computer-aided solutions. Four hours a week includes problem and laboratory sessions.  Fall and Spring (Cr. 3)

Prerequisites:  MATH 104

Course Goals:

  1. To instill an understanding of the basic physics laws and engineering principles governing electrical components and their interaction in circuits.

  2. To have the student use that knowledge in an analytical method to predict how circuits will behave.

  3. To develop laboratory skills, notably teamwork, the acquisition and processing of data that are pertinent and accurate, and the communication (in written and graphical form) of results and conclusions based on that data.

  4. To introduce PSpice computer skills so as to check and/or predict the operation of circuits.

  5. To introduce the concept of simple circuit design using the acquired analytical tools.

Course Objectives:

The student will be able to:

  • Use Kirchhoff's and Ohm's laws to calculate voltages, currents and power in DC, AC and transient circuits.

  • Use the ideal and the real models of op amps to analyze simple amplifier circuits.

  • Use Thevenin's theorem to simplify circuit analysis, to calculate input impedances as well as to optimize power transfer to a load.

  • Analyze AC electric circuits containing coupled inductors.

  • Use the constitutive relationships of resistors, inductors and capacitors to solve first- and second-order transient electric circuit problems.

  • Construct Bode plots for filter networks as well as calculate their resonant frequency and Q.

  • Use PSpice to simulate/analyze DC, AC and transient electric circuits.

  • Make measurements, DC and AC, on electric circuits and write cogent laboratory reports.

Course Syllabus

Texts:

Basic Engineering Circuit Analysis, 6th edition; J Irwin & C Wu; Macmillan; 1999; and Schematic Capture with MicroSim PSpice, 4th edition; M Herniter; Prentice Hall; 2000

Topics:

  1. Charge, current, voltage, Ohm's law, Kirchhoff's voltage law (4 lectures)

  2. Kirchhoff's current law, parallel and series resistors, voltage divider, current divider, dependent source, nodal analysis (4 lectures)

  3. Nodal analysis (4 lectures)

  4. Loop analysis  (5 lectures)

  5. Operational amplifiers, PSpice (DC), linearity, superposition, source transformation, Thevenin's theorem, maximum power transfer (5 lectures)

  6. Capacitors and inductors (2 lectures)

  7. RC and RL circuits, PSpice (transient) (4 lectures)

  8. RLC circuits, under-, over- and critically-damped circuit solutions (4 lectures)

  9. Sinusoids and phasors, impedance, Kirchhoff's laws (4 lectures)

  10. PSpice (AC), Network theorems in sinusoidal steady-state applications (4 lectures)

  11. AC frequency analysis, Bode plots, resonant circuits (8 lectures)

  12. Labs (two, 2-hour labs)

  13. Tests (4 hours of tests and a 2-hour final exam)

Computer usage: AC, DC and transient PSpice homework

ABET category content: Engineering Science: 3 credits (100%)

Prepared by: Dr George Prans                                   Date: Spring 2001