- Academic Registry
Programme & Unit Catalogues


PH10003: Electric circuits

[Page last updated: 15 October 2020]

Follow this link for further information on academic years Academic Year: 2020/1
Further information on owning departmentsOwning Department/School: Department of Physics
Further information on credits Credits: 3      [equivalent to 6 CATS credits]
Further information on notional study hours Notional Study Hours: 60
Further information on unit levels Level: Certificate (FHEQ level 4)
Further information on teaching periods Period:
Semester 1
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Summary: EX 100%
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Detail:

Information regarding synoptic assessment for this unit will be published shortly. In the meantime please contact the Director of Studies or consult your programme handbook for further details.
Further information on supplementary assessment Supplementary Assessment:
Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Further information on requisites Requisites: While taking this module you must take PH10007 AND take PH10102
You must have A-level Physics or Chemistry (or equivalent) and A-level Mathematics (or equivalent) to take this unit.
Description: Aims:
The aim of this unit is to provide an introduction to electronics by developing an understanding of basic concepts in dc and ac electric circuits, as relevant to laboratory work in physics.

Learning Outcomes:
After taking this unit the student should be able to:
* use systematic analysis methods to calculate currents and voltages in passive dc circuits;
* calculate the amplitude and phase of voltages and currents in ac circuits by means of phasor analysis;
* analyse simple operational amplifier circuits from first principles;
* qualitatively describe both transient and steady-state responses of simple LCR circuits.

Skills:
Numeracy T/F A, Problem Solving T/F A.

Content:
DC circuits ( 4 hours): Kirchoff's voltage and current laws. Ideal voltage and current sources. Analysis of simple circuits using nodal voltage technique. Impedance matching; input/output impedance, maximum power transfer.
AC circuits ( 5 hours): AC voltage and current concepts (phase, rms value, amplitude, etc.). Capacitors and inductors as circuit elements. Phasors and phasor notation. Complex impedance. LCR circuits (resonance, Q factor, etc). Frequency dependence of circuits.
Ideal operational amplifiers ( 1 hour): Simple applications.
Transients (1 hour): Transient waveforms in simple circuits involving inductors, capacitors and resistors.
Further information on programme availabilityProgramme availability:

PH10003 is Compulsory on the following programmes:

Department of Physics
  • USPH-AFB01 : BSc(Hons) Physics (Year 1)
  • USPH-AAB02 : BSc(Hons) Physics with Study year abroad (Year 1)
  • USPH-AKB02 : BSc(Hons) Physics with Year long work placement (Year 1)
  • USPH-AFB10 : BSc(Hons) Physics with Astrophysics (Year 1)
  • USPH-AAB10 : BSc(Hons) Physics with Astrophysics with Study year abroad (Year 1)
  • USPH-AKB10 : BSc(Hons) Physics with Astrophysics with Year long work placement (Year 1)
  • USPH-AFM02 : MPhys(Hons) Physics (Year 1)
  • USPH-AFM04 : MPhys(Hons) Physics with Research placement (Year 1)
  • USPH-AAM03 : MPhys(Hons) Physics with Study year abroad (Year 1)
  • USPH-AAM12 : MPhys(Hons) Physics with Study year abroad (Year 1)
  • USPH-AKM03 : MPhys(Hons) Physics with Professional Placement (Year 1)
  • USPH-AKM04 : MPhys(Hons) Physics with Professional and Research Placements (Year 1)
  • USPH-AFM10 : MPhys(Hons) Physics with Astrophysics (Year 1)
  • USPH-AFM11 : MPhys(Hons) Physics with Astrophysics with Research placement (Year 1)
  • USPH-AAM10 : MPhys(Hons) Physics with Astrophysics with Study year abroad (Year 1)
  • USPH-AKM10 : MPhys(Hons) Physics with Astrophysics with Professional Placement (Year 1)
  • USPH-AKM11 : MPhys(Hons) Physics with Astrophysics with Professional and Research Placements (Year 1)

Notes:

  • This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2020/21 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2021/22 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2020/21.
  • Programmes and units are subject to change in accordance with normal University procedures.
  • Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.
  • Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.