The foundations of Electronics are very broad, but include basic understanding of electric charge and current, potential and voltage. Though electrons are small they have mass and charge, and we need an understanding of the forces that make them move, since electronics is all about what happens when electrons move around.

Beyond this, there are some important fundamental principles governing electronic circuits and networks.  Mastery of these basic principles enables us to go on to solve even the most complex of problems in designing networks, circuits and systems.

The module adresses all the basic aspects though lectures, classes and above all through hands on laboratory work to develop the insight and skills necessary to pursuing deeper study of the field of electronics.

Module Learning Outcomes

After completing this module, students will be expected to be able to:
1. Apply dimensional analysis to electrical units and formulae
2. Apply analysis of electric fields to explain capacitance
3. Explain the basic properties of conductors, insulators and semiconductors
4. Apply concepts such as Thévenin and Norton sources to resistor networks
5. Apply a systematic method such as mesh or nodal analysis
6. Design and explain performance of a basic transistor amplifier.

Outline Syllabus

• Use of physical units; the MKSA system of units
• Charges and Fields; Electric fields due to charges; conservation of charge. Potential and electrical energy.
• Principles of conservation and Kirchhoff laws as basis for electrical theory; Networks with sources: Thevenin and Norton theorems. Matrix description of a network
• Series and parallel circuit paths;
• Charge mobility in materials, electrical current as collective charge motion. Concept of resistance, and Ohms law for linear materials; conductance; series and parallel combinations. Basic electrical measurements
• Introduction to semiconductor devices; diodes and bipolar transistors and basic transistor amplifiers


Learning & Teaching Methods

Lectures & Laboratories

Assessment

This module is 50% Exam and 50% Coursework