The aim of this module is to introduce and apply the laws used in DC circuit analysis and to introduce the student to the basic components of electrical circuits that will provide a solid foundation for further study.
Safe working and electrical safety fundamentals: Industrial safety, hazard assessment and hazard categories. Electrical safety and dangers of shock and fire. Basic risk assessment.
Electric charge, current and voltage: Electric charge, charging by conduction and induction, Coulomb’s law, electric fields, current and voltage. Resistance and Ohm's law. Kirchhoff's laws. Scientific notation and units.
DC circuit analysis: Formulation of circuit equations using Ohm's laws and Kirchoff's laws. Application of fundamental equations to solutions for resistors in series and resistors in parallel.
Network theorems: Superposition theorem. Equivalent circuit concept and Thevenin's Theorem.
Work energy and power: Definitions of work and power, and application to electrical circuits. Power dissipated in resistors. Units of work and power.
Resistance and resistivity: Resistivity of common engineering materials. The affect of length, cross section and resistivity on resistance value.
Capacitance: Charges and electric fields. Capacitance. Capacitors, effect and construction. Series and parallel capacitors. Stored energy. RC circuits, time constant.
Inductance: Brief description of underlying principles, inductors as circuit elements, series and parallel combinations, RL circuits, time constant.
Electromagnetism: Description of underlying principles, magnetic field generated by current, force on a current carrying conductor in a magnetic field. Faraday’s law, Lenz’s law, left hand motor rule.
