Description

Electric circuit theory and electromagnetic theory are the two fundamental theories upon which all branches of electrical engineering are built, including computer engineering. Many branches of electrical engineering such as power, electric machines, control, electronics, communications, and instrumentation, are based on electric circuit theory. Therefore, the basic electric circuit theory is "the" foundation and starting point for what follows in electrical and computer engineering programs. Circuit theory is also valuable to students specializing in other areas of the physical sciences because circuits are perfect and easy-to-understand models for the study of energy systems in general. This is also partly due to the common applied mathematics, physics, and topology involved. This course builds on fundamental physics and mathematics from APSC 112, APSC 171, APSC 172, and APSC 174.

Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs)

• Understand the basic circuit components and the fundamental laws of circuit theories (KCL, KVL, Ohma's law,...)
• Derive the mathematical model of resistive, and first and second order circuits
• Solve resistive circuits using techniques such as current voltage divider, mesh-current, node-voltage, Thevenin and Norton, superposition...)
• Solve the initial condition and step responses of RC, RL and RLC circuits
• Solve sinusoidal steady-state response of RL, RC, and RLC circuits using techniques such as mesh-current, node-voltage, thevenin and Norton, superposition
• Calculate power consumption in RL, RC and RLC circuits under steady-state sinusoidal excitation
• Investigate the initial and step response of RL, RC and RLC circuits
• Investigate the sinusoidal steady-state response of RL, RC and RLC circuits and power consummation is such circuits

Credit Breakdown

Lecture: 3
Lab: 0.75
Tutorial: 0.5
Total: 4.25

Academic Unit Breakdown

Mathematics 0
Natural Sciences 0
Complementary Studies 0
Engineering Science 38
Engineering Design 13

PREREQUISITE(S): APSC 112 or APSC 114, APSC 171, APSC 172, APSC 174 
COREQUISITE(S): MTHE 235 or MTHE 237 or MTHE 225 or MTHE 232 

Course Structure and Activities

Week 1:
Why study circuit theory? Circuit variables (V, I, P), passive sign convention; Ideal current & voltage sources (dep/indep), linear resistor (R), open & short ccts

Week 2:
Circuit analysis with dependent sources ; Resistive circuits reduction, voltage & current dividers ; Measuring current and voltage ; Wheatstone bridge ; Delta-Wye conversion

Week 3:
Node-voltage analysis ; Dependent sources, Special cases; Mesh-current analysis

Week 4:
[Mesh-current analysis] Dependent sources and special cases Source transformations, Thevenin/Norton equivalent circuits

Week 5:
Maximum power transfer ; Superposition principle; Capacitors (C) and inductors (L)

Week 6:
Capacitive/inductive circuit reduction; Natural and step responses of first order RL and RC circuits

Week 7:
General solution for step & natural responses of RL, RC circuits, seq. switching Natural and step responses of the parallel RLC circuits

Week 8:
Natural and step responses of the series RLC circuits; Sinusoidal sources, sinusoidal steady-state response ; Phasors

Week 9:
Passive elements, impedance and reactance; Kirchhoff's laws in frequency domain, Combining impedances; Principle of superposition

Week 10:
Source transformation and Thevenin/Norton equivalent for AC circuits; Node-voltage and mesh-current analysis with phasors; Instantaneous, average and reactive powers and power factor

Week 11:
Effective value; Complex power, power factor correction

Week 12:
Maximum power transfer; Final review

Laboratory Studies

The lectures are complemented with laboratory experiments every two weeks.

Tutorials

Sample problems will be covered weekly to help with the understanding of the course material on the theoretical side. The hour-long tutorials are intended to be interactive directed at filling the gaps in the students' comprehension of the notions.

Textbook

The textbook for this course is based on the best-selling book of Nilsson and Riedel: Electric Circuits, 10th Edition, Prentice Hall (Please note that editions 9 & 10 are different).

This book is a mandatory item.