Download Subject Description Form Subject Code ENG237 Subject Title Basic

Subject Description Form
Subject Code
ENG237
Subject Title
Basic Electricity and Electronics I
Credit Value
3
Level
2
Pre-requisite/
Co-requisite/
Exclusion
Nil
Objectives
1. Introduce the fundamental concepts of operation of electric circuits
applicable to all engineering students.
2. Develop the ability on solving problems involving electric circuits.
3. Develop skills for experimentation on electric circuits.
Intended Subject
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the subject, students will be able to:
1. acquire a good understanding of the electric circuit operating principles;
2. solve simple problems in electric circuits;
3. use suitable instrumentation to carry out experimental investigations to
validate the theoretical investigations.
Contribution of the
Subject to the
Attainment of the
Programme
Outcomes
Programme Outcomes:
Category A Professional/academic knowledge and skills
 Programme Outcome 1: This subject contributes to the programme
outcome through teaching the fundamentals of electric circuit operating
principles and providing the students with an opportunity to practise the
application of knowledge.
 Programme Outcome 2: This subject contributes to the programme
outcome by providing the students with an opportunity to conduct
experiments.
 Programme Outcome 5: This subject contributes to the programme
outcome by providing the students with an opportunity to solve problems
involving electric circuits.
Category B Attributes for all-roundedness
 Programme Outcome 14: This subject contributes to the programme
outcome by providing the students with an opportunity to practise working
in a team.
Subject Synopsis/
Indicative Syllabus
Syllabus:
1. DC Circuits
Introduction to electric circuits. Potential and potential difference. Charge
and flow of charge. Voltage and current as two basic variables. Kirchhoff’s
current and voltage laws. Independent and dependent sources.
Resistance. Simple circuit styles: voltage divider, current divider, series
and parallel circuits. Nodal and mesh analyses. Thévenin and Norton
theorems. Power dissipation. Source loading and maximum power
transfer.
2. Capacitance, Inductance and First Order Transients
Constitutive relations of capacitor and inductor. Brief introduction to
physics (electric and magnetic fields). Introduction to time-varying circuits.
Simple RC and LC circuits. Important concept of independent state
variables. First-order differential equation (with simple solution of
exponential form). First order transient analysis. Time-domain solution and
transient behaviour of first order circuits. Time constant.
3. Transformers
Concept of ideal transformer (assuming sinusoidal voltages and currents).
Dot convention. Analyze circuit with ideal transformer. Calculate reflected
sources and impedances across ideal transformers. Applications in
galvanic isolation and voltage/current level conversion.
4. Steady-state Analysis of AC Circuits
Average and rms values. Phasors (rotating vectors). Steady-state analysis
of circuits driven by single fixed frequency sinusoidal sources. Impedance
and admittance. Analysis approach 1: phasor diagrams for simple circuits.
Analysis approach 2: systematic complex number analysis, i.e., same
treatment as DC circuits but with complex numbers representing phase
and magnitude of AC voltages and currents. Real and reactive powers.
Power factor.
5. Digital Logic Circuits
Binary number system: addition, subtraction, multiplication and division in
binary number systems. Conversion between binary and decimal numbers.
Two’s complement. Boolean algebra. Basic logic gates. Flip-flops.
Karnaugh maps. Don't care condition. Combinational Logic circuit designs
and modules.
Laboratory Experiments:
1. Instrumentation and circuit theorems
2. First order transient
3. Simple digital circuits
Teaching/ Learning
Methodology
On a subject of fundamental nature with large classes, lectures are the
primary and effective means of conveying the basic circuit principles (outcome
1) and demonstrating suitable application (outcome 2).
In order to strengthen the understanding of the basic concepts (outcome 1)
and to facilitate small-group discussions on examples and exercises (outcome
2), tutorials with a maximum class size of 20 are provided.
Experiments are essential for students to relate the concepts to practical
applications (outcome 2) and they are exposed to hand-on experience and
proper use of equipment and also analytical skills on interpreting experimental
results (outcome 3).
Teaching/Learning
Methodology
Intended Subject Learning Outcomes
1
2
Lectures


Tutorials


Experiments

3

Alignment of
Assessment and
Intended Subject
Learning Outcomes
Specific Assessment
Methods/ Task
%
Weighting
Intended Subject Learning
Outcomes to be Assessed
(Please tick as appropriate)
1
2
3
1. Continuous Assessment
(total 40%)

Class Tests
16%



Assignments
12%



Lab Logbooks & Report
12%
2. Examination
60%
Total
100%




Explanation of the appropriateness of the assessment methods in
assessing the intended learning outcomes:
It is a level-2 subject covering fundamental concepts of circuit analysis and
basic applications. Examination is adopted to assess students on the overall
understanding and the ability of applying the concepts. It is supplemented by
the mid-term class tests and regular quizzes which provide timely feedbacks
to both lecturers and students on various topics of the syllabus. Experiment
logbooks and reports reflect the students’ laboratory skills, usages of
appropriate equipment and data analysis on experiment results.
Student Study Effort
Expected
Class contact (time-tabled):

Lectures

Laboratory experiment
26 Hours
9 Hours
Other student study effort:

Supplementary tutorials/consultations
25 Hours

Self-study
42 Hours
Total student study effort:
Reading List and
References
102 Hours
Textbook:
1. G. Rizzoni, Fundamentals of Electrical Engineering, 1st ed., New York:
McGraw-Hill, 2009.
References:
1. C.K. Tse, Linear Circuit Analysis, London: Addison-Wesley, 1998.
2. D.A. Neamen, Micoelectronics: Circuit Analysis and Design, Boston:
McGraw-Hill, 3rd ed., 2006.
3. R.A. DeCarlo and P.M. Lin, Linear Circuit Analysis, 2nd ed., Oxford
University Press, 2001.
4. A.H. Robbins and W.C. Miller, Circuit Analysis: Theory and Practice,
Thomson Learning, 2nd ed., 2000.