Physics 330: Analog Electronics
Fall 2003

Prof. D. T. Petasis
123 Carr Hall

This course is an introduction to Analog Electronics for science majors, with a brief overview of the fundamentals of Digital Electronics (time permitting). This course will emphasize the physical principles underlying many electronics concepts. It is designed to give you a good grounding in modern electronics and devices to allow you to perform useful research in the lab at both the undergraduate and graduate level. The topics that we will cover, with approximate dates, are shown on page two of this syllabus.
The pre-requisites for this course are P111, P112 and M170. No background in electronics or its related areas is expected. Thorough knowledge of advanced math topics such as differential equations, complex variables, and partial derivatives is not required, but some familiarity with these concepts would be beneficial. When needed, some of these topics will be presented in class.
There will be homework assignments at the end of each topic (roughly every week). I will assign several problems for you to do, but I will ask you to turn in two or three of those problems for grading. However, you should do the entire assignment since exams will be based on these assignments. Each problem will be worth 10 points and your cumulative homework score will count toward your final grade according to the scheme shown below. The extra homework problems will be covered in review sessions prior to each exam. There will be two midterm exams and a final exam, as scheduled on page two. The final will not be cumulative. Each exam will count for 20% of your grade.
In addition to the lectures, there will be a three-hour lab every week. The lab topics will be closely related to the material covered in class. You will get a separate handout with lab guidelines next week.

Lectures: MWF 9:00-9:50 a.m. Carr 141

Lab: T 1:30-4:20 p.m. Carr 139

Text: "An Introduction to Modern Electronics" by W. L. Faissler

Office Hours: T 4:30-5:30 PM
W 2:30-4:30 PM
Th 9:00-11:00 AM
F 11:00 AM-12:00 PM
(if you need to see me at other times, try my office or my lab (104 Carr Hall))

Homework: Assigned on Monday and due the following Monday by 5:00 p.m.

Grading: Exams I, II, Final 20% each
Homework 20%
Labs 20%

N.B.: Class attendance is important since most of the material in this course will not be taken directly out of the textbook, making your lecture notes important when studying for exams.
Class participation is encouraged and will be used to determine borderline grades.

Dates Subject Chapters

8/29-9/1 D.C. Circuits· Ohm's Law· Kirchhoff's rules· Simple DC circuits 2, 3, 4
9/3-9/8 Mesh Equations· Maxwell's method for circuit analysis 5
9/10-9/12 Equivalent Circuits· Thevenin's theorem· Norton's theorem 6
9/15-9/22 Alternating Currents I· Resistor AC circuits· Capacitor AC circuits· Inductor AC circuits 7, 8
9/24-9/29 Alternating Currents II· RC High- and Low-pass circuits 9
10/1 Exam I
10/3-10/10 AC Circuit Analysis· RLC circuits - Resonance· Transformers 10, 11
10/13-10/20 Step Function Analysis· Transient currents· Pulses - response of circuits to single and multiple pulse inputs 12
10/22-10/27 Operational Amplifiers I· Op. Amps.· Basic op. amp. circuits· Analog computers 28
10/29-11/3 Operational Amplifiers II· Op. Amp. parameters· Special purpose amps.· Comparators and Schmitt trigger 29
11/05 Exam II
11/7-11/24 Solid State Devices I· Semiconductors· Solid state diodes 40, 41
11/26-11/30 Thanksgiving Break
12/1-12/10 Solid State Devices II· Transistor circuits· FETS 42, 43