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Unit of study_

ELEC9703: Fundamentals of Elec and Electronic Eng

Semester 1, 2024 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This unit of study aims to develop knowledge of the fundamental concepts and building blocks of electrical and electronics circuits. This is a foundation unit in circuit theory. Circuit theory is the electrical engineer's fundamental tool. The concepts learnt in this unit will be made use of heavily in many units of study (in later years) in the areas of electronics, instrumentation, electrical machines, power systems, communication systems, and signal processing. Topics: a) Basic electrical and electronic circuit concepts: Circuits, circuit elements, circuit laws, node and mesh analysis, circuit theorems, energy storage, capacitors and inductors, circuits with switches, transient response, sine waves and complex analysis, phasors, impedance, ac power. ; b) Project management, teamwork, ethics; c) Safety issues

Unit details and rules

Unit code ELEC9703
Academic unit Electrical and Information Engineering
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
ELEC5710 OR ELEC1103 OR ELEC2100
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

Basic knowledge of differentiation and integration, and HSC Physics

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Yash Shrivastava, yash.shrivastava@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Supervised exam
? 
Final Exam
Comprehensive pen-and-paper based exam.
60% Formal exam period 2 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO4 LO6 LO7
Participation Tutorials
Tutorials
10% Multiple weeks weekly
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO7 LO6 LO4
Participation Labs
Labs
12% Multiple weeks weekly
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Small test Weekly Quiz
Weekly Online Quiz
10% Multiple weeks 15 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO4 LO7 LO6
Creative assessment / demonstration Lab Test
Lab Test
8% Week 13 1.5 hours during scheduled class
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO4 LO5

Assessment summary

  • Tutorials: Students will be required to participate in analytical problem solving sessions on the material covered in the lectures and computer aided solution / illustration. These sessions will give students the opportunity to explore the concepts in detail and understand the material covered in the lecture. The solutions for the tutorials and computer codes will be available on UoS Canvas site at the end of the week.
  • Labs: Students will work in groups of two (and occasionally three) assigned by the unit coordinator. You are encouraged to keep a detailed log book for the purposes of lab work analysis.
  • Lab Test: This would be done individually and test the skills the students should have acquired during the labs throughout the semester.
  • Final exam: The final exam is a comprehensive exam to assess student’s skills learned throughout the semester. The exam will be closed book and closed notes and will test student’s conceptual understanding of the material. Any complex formulae needed will be provided on the question paper.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on UoS Canvas site.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website  provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.  

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy 2023 reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy 2023. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Lecture 1 (Introduction; Circuit Variables) Lecture (2 hr) LO7
Week 02 Lecture 2 (Circuit elements) Lecture (2 hr) LO7
Tutorial 1 Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO4 LO6 LO7
Week 03 Lecture 3 (Resistive circuits) Lecture (2 hr) LO4 LO6 LO7
Tutorial 2 Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO4 LO6 LO7
Lab 1 - Basic DC Measurements Practical (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 04 Lecture 4 (Techniques of Circuit Analysis) Lecture (2 hr) LO4 LO6 LO7
Tutorial 3 Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO4 LO6 LO7
Lab 2 - Voltage and Current Dividers Practical (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 05 Lecture 5 (Techniques of Circuit Analysis; Operational Amplifiers) Lecture (2 hr) LO4 LO6 LO7
Tutorial 4 Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO4 LO6 LO7
Lab 3 - AC Source and Measurement Practical (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 06 Lecture 6 (Inductance, Capacitance, and Mutual Inductance) Lecture (2 hr) LO4 LO6 LO7
Tutorial 5 Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO4 LO6 LO7
Lab 4 - Operational Amplifiers Practical (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 07 Lecture 7 (Response of (first order) RL and RC Circuits) Lecture (2 hr) LO4 LO6 LO7
Tutorial 6 Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO4 LO6 LO7
Make up labs Practical (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 08 Lecture 8 (Response of (second order) RLC Circuits) Lecture (2 hr) LO4 LO6 LO7
Tutorial 7 Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO4 LO6 LO7
Lab 5 - Capacitors and Inductors Practical (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 10 Lecture 9 (Sinusoidal Steady-State Analysis) Lecture (2 hr) LO4 LO6 LO7
Tutorial 8 Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO4 LO6 LO7
Lab 6 - First Order Circuits Practical (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 11 Lecture 10 (Sinusoidal Steady-State Power Calculations) Lecture (2 hr) LO4 LO6 LO7
Tutorial 9 Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO4 LO6 LO7
Lab 7 - Heart Beat Sensor Practical (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 12 Lecture 11 (Balanced Three-Phase Circuits) Lecture (2 hr) LO4 LO6 LO7
Tutorial 10 Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO4 LO6 LO7
Lab 8 - AC Circuits and Power Practical (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 13 Lecture 12 (Review) Lecture (2 hr) LO4 LO6 LO7
Tutorial 11 Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO4 LO6 LO7
Lab Test Practical (3 hr) LO2 LO4 LO5
Students need to assimilate knowledge from various sources and try more problems. Independent study (34 hr) LO1 LO4 LO6 LO7

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

  • James Nilsson and Susan Riedel, Electric Circuits (11th). Pearson, 2018. 9781292261041.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. synthesise information from diverse sources to make clear and meaningful conclusions with respect to the lab and tutorial work
  • LO2. clearly explain the workings of the circuits in the lab experiments and lab tests
  • LO3. work constructively in a team do conduct lab experiments by drawing on diverse skills and aptitudes of the team members
  • LO4. analyse performance of electrical and electronic circuits including the ability to recognize engineering limitations
  • LO5. use electronic lab equipment to make electrical measurements and interpret them
  • LO6. analyse and design simple circuits using a clearly defined system based approach to solve a specific problem
  • LO7. demonstrate a basic understanding of the physics behind working of inductors, resistors and capacitors

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Lab test has been reintroduced as we are fully back on campus now.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.