The aim of this module is to introduce and apply the laws used in DC circuit analysis and to introduce the student to the basic components of electrical circuits that will provide a solid foundation for further study.
Safe working and electrical safety fundamentals
Industrial safety, hazard assessment and hazard categories. Electrical safety and dangers of shock and fire. Basic risk assessment.
Electric charge, current and voltage
Electric charge, charging by conduction and induction, Coulomb’s law, electric fields, current and voltage. Resistance and Ohm's law. Kirchhoff's laws. Scientific notation and units.
DC circuit analysis
Formulation of circuit equations using Ohm's laws and Kirchohhoff's laws. Application of fundamnental equations to soutions for resistors in series and resistors in parallel.
Network theorems
Superposition theorem. Equivalent circuit concept and Thevenin's Theorem.
Work energy and power
Definitions of work and power, and application to electrical circuits. Power dissipated in resistors. Units of work and power.
Resistance and resistivity
Resistivity of common engineering materials. The affect of length, cross section and resistivity on resistance value.
Capacitance
Charges and electric fields. Capacitance. Capacitors, effect and construction. Series and parallel capacitors. Stored energy. RC circuits, time constant.
Inductance
Brief description of underlying principles, inductors as circuit elements, series and parallel combinations, RL circuits, time constant.
Electromagnetism
Description of underlying principles, magnetic field generated by current, force on a current carrying conductor in a magnetic field. Faraday’s law, Lense’s law, left hand motor rule.
| Module Content & Assessment | |
|---|---|
| Assessment Breakdown | % |
| Other Assessment(s) | 30 |
| Formal Examination | 70 |