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ELEC5710: Foundations of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (2014 - Semester 1)

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Unit: ELEC5710: Foundations of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (6 CP)
Mode: Normal-Day
On Offer: Yes
Level: Postgraduate
Faculty/School: School of Electrical & Computer Engineering
Unit Coordinator/s: Dr Jin, Craig
Session options: Semester 1
Versions for this Unit:
Site(s) for this Unit: https://elearning.sydney.edu.au
Campus: Camperdown/Darlington
Pre-Requisites: None.
Brief Handbook Description: 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
Assumed Knowledge: Basic knowledge of differentiation & integration, and HSC Physics
Lecturer/s: Dr Jin, Craig
Timetable: ELEC5710 Timetable
Time Commitment:
# Activity Name Hours per Week Sessions per Week Weeks per Semester
1 Lecture 3.00 3 13
2 Laboratory 3.00 1 8
3 Tutorial 2.00 1 12
4 Independent Study 4.00 13
T&L Activities: Independent Study: Read textbook and other material, prepare for lectures, attempt tutorial questions, read laboratory notes in advance, complete quizzes.

Attributes listed here represent the key course goals (see Course Map tab) designated for this unit. The list below describes how these attributes are developed through practice in the unit. See Learning Outcomes and Assessment tabs for details of how these attributes are assessed.

Attribute Development Method Attribute Developed
Ability to design and analyse a range of elementary electrical circuits. Design (Level 1)
Understand the fundamental concepts and building blocks of electrical and electronics circuits. Hence, apply these discipline specific skills to relevant problems through laboratory group work with written reports and assignments. Engineering/IT Specialisation (Level 2)
Understand the physics of circuit devices and voltage and current laws through lectures, tutorials, assignment, and laboratory Maths/Science Methods and Tools (Level 2)
Use of information resources in assignments and laboratory with concomitant critical information assessment for engineering application. Information Seeking (Level 2)
Present laboratory reports clearly and effectively to technical audience in a concise manner. Communication (Level 1)
Understanding of the engineering environment, professional and ethical standards through lectures, assignment, laboratory group work, case studies and class discussion. Professional Conduct (Level 1)
Achieve prescribed goals in laboratory projects with partner(s) through teamwork. Project and Team Skills (Level 1)

For explanation of attributes and levels see Engineering & IT Graduate Outcomes Table.

Learning outcomes are the key abilities and knowledge that will be assessed in this unit. They are listed according to the course goal supported by each. See Assessment Tab for details how each outcome is assessed.

Design (Level 1)
1. Ability to analyse and design simple circuits using a clearly defined system based approach to solve a specific problem.
Engineering/IT Specialisation (Level 2)
2. Knowledge of electrical and electronic circuits including the ability to recognize engineering limitations.
3. Ability to analyse circuits proficiently.
4. Proficiency with electronic lab equipment, making electrical measurements andinterpretations.
Maths/Science Methods and Tools (Level 2)
5. Ability to demonstrate a basic understanding of physics of inductors, resistors and capacitors.
6. Ability to recall potential and current laws in the field of electrical and electronic engineering.
Information Seeking (Level 2)
7. Ability to draw on diverse sources of information such as the internet, and synthesise the information to draw clear and meaningful conclusions with respect to the project at hand.
Communication (Level 1)
8. Ability to write clear laboratory reports for a technical audience on a particular engineering subject matter.
Professional Conduct (Level 1)
9. An appreciation of the professional and ethical responsibilities to the limit afforded by lectures, assignments and labs.
Project and Team Skills (Level 1)
10. Ability to work in a team constructively by drawing on diverse skills and aptitudes for the purpose of engineering lab projects.
Assessment Methods:
# Name Group Weight Due Week Outcomes
1 Final Exam No 60.00 Exam Period 1, 2, 3, 5, 6,
2 Weekly Homework No 15.00 Multiple Weeks 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7,
3 Lab Skills Yes 15.00 Multiple Weeks 1, 2, 4, 8, 9, 10,
4 Mid-Term Exam No 5.00 Week 8 1, 2, 3, 5, 6,
5 Conceptual Review Questions No 5.00 Multiple Weeks 1, 2, 3, 5, 6,
Assessment Description: Tutorial work (Circuit analysis problems): 15%

Conceptual Review questions (Lecture review): 5%

Laboratory work (performance and log book): 20%

Mid-Term: 10%

Final Exam: 50%

Completion of Skills Challenge is required to pass the course. Students must also pass the final exam to pass the course.
Assessment Feedback: Tutorial participation and log book feedback will be given by tutors and lab assistants. Quiz feedback will be given on-line. Specific feedback will be given in lectures including exam preparation.
Grading:
Grade Type Description
Standards Based Assessment Final grades in this unit are awarded at levels of HD for High Distinction, DI (previously D) for Distinction, CR for Credit, PS (previously P) for Pass and FA (previously F) for Fail as defined by University of Sydney Assessment Policy. Details of the Assessment Policy are available on the Policies website at http://sydney.edu.au/policies . Standards for grades in individual assessment tasks and the summative method for obtaining a final mark in the unit will be set out in a marking guide supplied by the unit coordinator.
Policies & Procedures: See the policies page of the faculty website at http://sydney.edu.au/engineering/student-policies/ for information regarding university policies and local provisions and procedures within the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technologies.
Prescribed Text/s: Note: Students are expected to have a personal copy of all books listed.
Online Course Content: https://elearning.sydney.edu.au

Note that the "Weeks" referred to in this Schedule are those of the official university semester calendar https://web.timetable.usyd.edu.au/calendar.jsp

Week Description
Week 1 Lecture: Introduction
Week 2 Lecture: Circuit Elements
Week 3 Lecture: Resistive circuits
Week 4 Lecture: Resistive circuits
Week 5 Lecture: Nodal analysis, mesh analysis and other methods
Week 6 Lecture: Nodal analysis, mesh analysis and other methods
Week 7 Lecture: Operational amplifiers
Week 8 Assessment Due: Mid-Term Exam
Week 9 Lecture: Capacitors and inductors
Week 10 Response of first order circuits
Week 11 Lecture: Response of first order circuits
Week 12 Lecture: Steady-state sinusoidal analysis
Week 13 Lecture: Steady-state sinusoidal analysis
Exam Period Assessment Due: Final Exam

Course Relations

The following is a list of courses which have added this Unit to their structure.

Course Year(s) Offered
Master of Professional Engineering (Electrical) 2013, 2014
Master of Professional Engineering (Power) 2013, 2014
Master of Professional Engineering (Telecommunications) 2013, 2014

Course Goals

This unit contributes to the achievement of the following course goals:

Attribute Practiced Assessed
Design (Level 1) Yes 18.5%
Engineering/IT Specialisation (Level 2) Yes 40%
Maths/Science Methods and Tools (Level 2) Yes 32.5%
Information Seeking (Level 2) Yes 1.5%
Communication (Level 1) Yes 3%
Professional Conduct (Level 1) Yes 1.5%
Project and Team Skills (Level 1) Yes 3%

These goals are selected from Engineering & IT Graduate Outcomes Table which defines overall goals for courses where this unit is primarily offered. See Engineering & IT Graduate Outcomes Table for details of the attributes and levels to be developed in the course as a whole. Percentage figures alongside each course goal provide a rough indication of their relative weighting in assessment for this unit. Note that not all goals are necessarily part of assessment. Some may be more about practice activity. See Learning outcomes for details of what is assessed in relation to each goal and Assessment for details of how the outcome is assessed. See Attributes for details of practice provided for each goal.