| CODE | FST0411 | ||||||||||||||||
| TITLE | Principles of Electrical Circuit Theory and Electromagnetism | ||||||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 00 - Mod Pre-Tert, Foundation, Proficiency & DegreePlus | ||||||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 4 | ||||||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 5 | ||||||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Engineering and ICT | ||||||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit provides the fundamental theory of electrical circuits that deals with resistors, capacitors and inductors in direct and alternating current circuits. Circuits involving direct currents are dealt with in a high level of detail, whereas the alternating current circuits are only delivered in moderate detail. This study-unit also introduces the student to experimentation and formal lab report preparation through several lab sessions held throughout the duration of the semester. Below is the list of topics covered: Topic 1 - Electric Fields - Concept of Electric Fields - Uniform and Non-Uniform Electrical Fields - Coulomb鈥檚 Law - Qualitative and quantitative definitions of Electric Field Strength and Electric Potential - Potential and Potential Energy - Concept of charging a metal by induction, and an insulator by friction Topic 2 - Direct Current - Concept with reference to flow of charge - Difference between DC and AC - Ohm鈥檚 Law - Ohmic and Non-Ohmic conductors - Conductance, Resistance, Conductivity and Resistivity - Electrical Circuit Drawing 鈥� Standardized symbols & drawing conventions - Resistor arrangements 鈥� Series & Parallel - Electromotive force and Internal resistance - Combination of batteries 鈥� Series & Parallel - The potential divider rule - The potentiometer - Temperature coefficient of resistance - Kirchhoff鈥檚 Laws - Energy and Power in DC circuits - The maximum power transfer theorem - Voltmeters and Ammeters Topic 3 - Capacitors - Concept of capacitance with reference to electric fields - Dielectrics and factors affecting capacitance - Charge / Discharge of capacitor as exponential growth/decay; - The concept of time constant - Energy stored in a capacitor - Capacitive-Resistive DC circuits - Capacitors in series and parallel. Topic 4 - Magnetic fields - Concept of magnetic fields; - Magnetic Flux Density and Magnetic Flux - Magnets and Magnetic Sources - Magnetic flux density of a wire, flat circular coil, and a solenoid - Force on straight currentcarrying conductor - The Lorentz Force - Force between two long parallel current-carrying straight conductors - Torque on a rectangular coil in different magnetic fields - The Hall Effect Topic 5 - Electromagnetic induction - Magnetic flux and flux linkage - Faraday鈥檚 and Lenz鈥檚 laws - EMF induced in a straight conductor moving in a uniform magnetic field - Self-induction - L-R DC circuits - Derivation of current variation with time for an L-R DC circuit - Mutual induction - The electric motor (concept) 鈥� Back EMF as a function of rotational speed 鈥� Starting current - The DC generator (concept) - Energy stored in an inductor Topic 6 - Alternating Currents - Concept of Alternating Currents - Characteristics of an alternating supply (period, frequency, amplitude 鈥� RMS and peak)- Reactance - Inductive Alternating Current Circuits - Capacitive Alternating Current Circuits - The Phasor Diagram - L-R-C Circuits - Power in Alternating Current Circuits - Transformer 鈥� principles of operation - Rectification and Smoothing - High-tension transmission Topic 7 - Fundamentals of Electronics - Intrinsic Semi-Conductors - Extrinsic Semi-Conductors - The P-N Junction Diode - The Light-Emitting Diode (LED) Study-Unit Aims: - To provide students with the core concepts of Electrical Circuit Theory and Electromagnetism; - To provide a comprehensive understanding of Magnetism and Electromagnetic Induction; - To give an introductory overview to the application of the above concepts in practice; - To develop students鈥� ability to think critically and to reason logically; - To show how to utilize mathematics to model electrical and electronic circuits; - To explain how to apply simple theory to practical circuits; - To show how these principles form the basis of modern electronic technology; - To introduce the student to experimentation and lab report formulation. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Describe the concept of electric fields in a general context; - Distinguish between uniform and non-uniform electrical fields; - Use the definitions of electrical field strength and electrical potential to formulate equations; - Work out questions involving both uniform and non-uniform fields; - Explain what direct current is; - Describe and use Ohm鈥檚 law proficiently; - Distinguish between Ohmic and non-Ohmic conductors; - Draw and interpret electric circuits; - Work with series and parallel combination of resistors; - Explain qualitatively and quantitatively the electromotive force and internal resistance of a battery; - Conduct an experiment to measure the EMF and internal resistance of a battery; - Use the potential divider rule; - Explain the principle of operation of the potentiometer; - Use Kirchhoff鈥檚 laws proficiently; - Work with resistive DC circuits; - Quantify energy and power in DC circuits; - State and derive the maximum power transfer theorem; - Explain qualitatively how an ammeter and a voltmeter can be set up from a galvanometer; - Explain the concept of capacitance with reference to electric fields; - Explain how the dielectric material affects the capacitance; - Derive equations for charging and discharging of a capacitor with respect to time; - Describe the notion of time constant; - Evaluate the energy stored in a capacitor; - Work with capacitive-resistive DC circuits; - Describe the concept of magnetic fields in a general context; - Identify and explain different types of magnetic sources; - Evaluate the magnetic flux density around an infinitely long straight current-carrying conductor, flat circular coil and infinitely long solenoid; - Find the force on a straight-current carrying conductor placed in a uniform magnetic field; - Describe and evaluate the Lorentz Force; - Find the force between the parallel, current-carrying conductors in the presence of each other; - Find the torque on a rectangular coil in uniform and radial magnetic fields; - Describe and derive the Hall voltage; - Describe flux linkage; - State and use Faraday鈥檚 and Lenz鈥檚 laws of electromagnetic induction; - Derive the EMF induced in a straight conductor moving in a uniform magnetic field; - Describe self-induction; - Work problems involving an L-R DC circuit; - Describe the concept of mutual induction; - Derive the current and voltage characteristics of the growth and decay of an L-R DC circuit; - Derive and evaluate the energy stored in an inductor; - Describe in detail the concept of operation of a simple electric motor and generator; - Present the concept of alternating currents in a general context; - Characterize alternating currents through appropriate terminology, such as RMS, peak, frequency and phase; - Work out the RMS values for a sinusoidal and square wave current/voltage; - Describe the concept of reactance; - Describe the current and voltage phasing of resistive, inductive and capacitive AC circuits in isolation; - Use the phasor diagram; - Work out the resultant magnitude and phase difference between voltage and current for an L-C-R AC circuit; - Describe the principle of operation of a transformer; - Explain the principle of operation of the half-wave and full-wave rectifier; - Explain the principle of operation of the smoothing capacitor; - Describe the concept of High-Tension transmission; - Describe Intrinsic semi-conductors; - Explain how a semi-conductor may be doped to increase its conductivity; - Describe the principle of operation of a P-N junction diode and LED. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Describe qualitatively and quantitatively the concept of electric and magnetic fields; - Apply the principles of electric fields to capacitors; - Amalgamate the principles of magnetism to electromagnetic induction; - Solve moderate-to-advanced level questions that involve DC L-R-C circuits; - Solve beginner-to-moderate level questions that involve AC L-R-C circuits; - Use mathematics to derive, model and solve physics questions; - Follow simple real-world electric and electronic circuits; - Relate fundamental physics theory to current technological artefacts; - Conduct simple electronic experiments; - Analyze data obtained from experiments and prepare lab reports that formally document these experiments; Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Texts: - Notes provided by lecturer. Supplementary Readings: - M. Farrell (2015). Advanced Level Physics Q&A Vol II. Miller Publications. ISBN: 9789995752217. - M. Farrell (2007). Advanced Level Physics Q&A. Miller Publications. ISBN: 9789993286158. - R. Muncaster (2014). A-Level Physics Fourth Edition. Nelson Thornes. ISBN: 9780748715848. - T. Duncan (2000). A-Level Physics Fifth Edition. Hodder Murray. ISBN: 9780719576690. - A.C. Xuereb (2012). Sixth Form College Physics, second edition. Merlin Publishers Ltd. ISBN: 978999091410-8. |
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| ADDITIONAL NOTES | This study-unit is offered only to the Certificate in Foundation Studies students. Please note that a pass in the Examination component is obligatory for an overall pass mark to be awarded. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Independent Study, Lecture, Practical & Tutorials | ||||||||||||||||
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| LECTURER/S | Carl Caruana |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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