Welcome to PHYSICS 337

25 August 1999

Time:

Lecture 12:30-1:50 Tuesday and Thursday in Room 249, Optics Bldg
Lab: 2:00-4:00 Thursday

Instructor:

Rob Sheldon

Office Hours:

9-11 Tue-Thurs and TBA, Room 348 Optics Bldg

Phone:

UAH:890 6276 x348 MSFC:544 1652

Course Description:

This is an introductory course in electronics for all science majors. We will study basic DC and AC circuits, transistor circuits, operational amplifiers, power supplies, feedback and oscillators. We'll also get you started on digital electronics and integrated circuit (IC) chips.

The goal of this course is to help you to apply and use electronic instruments and circuits and especially the electronics associated with physical transducers used in measurements and experimentation. We want you to learn how to apply electronic instruments properly in scientific experimentation. In order to do that, it will be necessary to study the details of electronic devices and circuits. I plan on using a significant portion of class time for demonstrations and for individual hands-on work with devices and circuits. There is also a lab period that we must schedule that will give you even more time for hands-on work.

Hopefully, this course should help demystify electronics and give you some beginning insight into how scientific electronics work. You will become very familiar with circuits and begin to design simple ones. You will learn the functioning and proper use of standard lab instruments that are already designed and available. Finally, this course should help expose and correct any misconceptions that you have about electronics, electricity and electromagnetic theory.

Grading:

The final grade will be derived from:

Text:

Principles of Electronics, Analog and Digital, Lloyd Fortney, Harcourt, Brace and Jovanovich
The text is somewhat mathematical in it's presentation, but that makes it general. We'll look at many specific examples to illustrate the text material. I plan to cover selected topics from the first 10 chapters according to the following tentative schedule.

Several handouts are based on Forest Mims book:
Getting Started in Electronics

Tentative Lecture Schedule:

WeekDateTopicChapHomeworkSolutions
1Aug 25DC Circuits16,9,14,15,16,23,27
2Aug 31DC Circuits1Chap 1
2Sep 2AC Circuits21,3,6,8,11,12
3Sep 7AC Circuits2 Chap 2a
3Sep 9AC Circuits217,18,20,23,25,30
4Sep 14AC Circuits2
4Sep 16AC Circuits2Chap 2b
5Sep 21Signals,Filters,Amps35,6,9,20,23,25
5Sep 23Signals,Filters,Amps3
6Sep 28Signals,Filters,Amps3Chap 3
6Sep 30Transformers4See handout
7Oct 5 ****Review #1****Chap 4
7Oct 7 ***Fall Break***
8Oct 12****EXAM #1****5Test 1
8Oct 14Diodes53,5,6,8,11,16
9Oct 19Transistors66,10,12,18,26,30Chap 5
9Oct 21Transistors6
10Oct 26More Transistors7Handout
10Oct 28Operational Amplifiers82,4,5,6,10,15Chap 6
11Nov 2Operational Amplifiers8
11Nov 4Operational Amplifiers8
12Nov 9 Operational Amplifiers8Chap 8
12Nov 11****EXAM #2****
13Nov 16Digital Basics98,11,13,15,18,21Handout
13Nov 18Digital Basics9
14Nov 23Digital Basics9
14Nov 25***Thanksgiving***Chap 9
15Nov 30Acquisition&Process Ctl1010-2,14,16,20; 11-9,10
15Dec 2 Acquisition&Process Ctl11
16Dec 7 ReviewLast chance for HW/Labs!Chap 10,11
16Dec 9***FINAL EXAM*** @11:30 AM

Tentative Lab Schedule

Homework:

Assigned for each chapter. Due the following period after completing the chapter or when the next homework is assigned. To receive full credit, answers must be submitted on time. Doing these problems is part of the process and I know that you will often work with other students. Do so as a participant, not just a passenger! Late homework will be assessed a penalty of 30% past due date.

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