50:750:233 Electric Circuits I (Fall 2003)

Instructor: Professor Cowley
  Office: BSB 410, email: cowley@camden.rutgers.edu

 
Required Texts: Nilsson and Riedel, Electric Circuits (Sixth Edition),
Student's Guide and PSpice CD(shrink wrapped)

 
Grading: Homework (one problem per class) 25%
Final exam 30%
Three tests @ 15% each 45%

 
Syllabus (Fall 2003)

The first three chapters of the text book should constitute an extended review (6 lectures) for most students:

Chapter 1: Circuit Variables (1 lecture)
Chapter 2: Circuit Elements (2 lectures)
Chapter 3: Simple Resistive Circuits (3 lectures)

Test 1: September 23

The next chapter is the heart of the course. The sophisticated techniques of circuit analysis are developed here. You must be prepared to work many problems at this point, and to learn to be very disciplined with regard to sign conventions.

Chapter 4: Techniques of Circuit Analysis (7 lectures)

Introduction to SPICE - there are now several computer programs that make use of the analysis methods you have learned. We use a version of the PSPICE program, which is also described in the booklet shrink-wrapped with a CD (2 lectures).

Test 2: October 28

Chapter 5: The Operational Amplifier - this doesn't fit particularly well with the other material, but it is an important device that you will use in the laboratory (2 lectures).

Chapter 6: Inductance, Capacitance, and Mutual Capacitance - a review of their properties (1 lecture).

The inductor and capacitor show two types of interesting and useful behavior, transient effects when a circuit is turned on or off, and reactive effects when an alternating source is used. This semester, we deal only with the alternating current applications. (Students majoring in Electrical and Computer Engineering will take the second half of the course next semester, and they will then learn more than they ever wanted to know about transient effects!)

Chapter 9: Sinusoidal Steady-State Analysis (4 lectures)

Chapter 10: Sinusoidal Steady-State Power Calculations (3 lectures)

Test 3: December 9

Final Exam: Wednesday, Dec. 17, 9:00-12:00 am.

The last time I taught the course, the final exam consisted of the problems: 1.10, 2.11, 4.3 using node voltages, then mesh currents, then superposition, 5.14, 6.4, 9.22, 9.30, Drill Ex. 10.5


Last Modified: June 12, 2003