Electric Circuits

Instance: 2013/2014 - 2S

Cycles of Study/Courses

Last updated on 2014-02-05.

Fields changed: Objectives, Resultados de aprendizagem e competências, Métodos de ensino e atividades de aprendizagem, Fórmula de cálculo da classificação final, Componentes de Avaliação e Ocupação, Melhoria de classificação, Obtenção de frequência, Programa, Avaliação especial

Teaching language

Objectives

The main objective of the course is to provide the students with basic training in the  analysis of linear electric circuits. Students must acquire the ability to apply the basic laws of the theory of electricity to DC and AC circuits, under transient and sinusoidal steady conditions.

Learning outcomes and competences

The students should acquire the skills needed to demonstrate that they are able to:

1. Describe and explain the concepts, characteristics and properties of the electrical fundamental variables (charge, voltage, current), and of passive and active devices in models of electric circuits (resistance, capacitance, inductance, and both independent and controlled voltage and current sources).

2. Identify and distinguish the basic laws applicable to electric circuits as well as the methods of circuit analysis and simplification that make use of these laws.

3. Write equations that describe the operation of DC and switched circuits (transient and steady state).

4. Describe and explain the concepts of phasor and impedance/admittance, and to apply them in the analysis of circuits in sinusoidal steady state.

5. Identifyr, characterize and operate with the notions of power in general, and complex power (apparent, active and reactive).

Working method

Program

1. DC circuit analysis: general concepts. Variables and basic electrical laws. Methods for circuit analysis. Inductances and capacitors. RC and RL first order circuits.

2. AC circuit analysis: general concepts. Sinusoidal signals. The concept of phasor and phasor relationships for R, L and C circuit elements . Impedance and admittance. Sinusoidal steady-state response. Power calculation for sinusoidal steady-state operation.

3. Two-port networks.

Mandatory literature

Teaching methods and learning activities

The teaching activities take place in two distinct types of classes: theoretical (T) and practical-laboratory (PL). T classes involve lectures on the subject matter, whenever possible accompanied by the solution of illustrative examples. PL classes are dedicated to solving selected problems and last 2 hours per week.

The following types of students have to register in sections and attend a minimum number of classes:

- all the students taking the course for the first time, who are automatically enrolled in sections 1 to 12;

- students having registered for the course in previous years without obtaining the "frequency" status (as stated in their individual academic track record in SIGARRA), who must enroll in sections 13 to 16.

All the other students, although not being required to enroll in a section and attend a minimum number of classes, are nevertheless strongly encouraged to attend and to participate actively in all T classes and in the PL classes of a section of their choice, subject to acceptance by the teaching staff member in charge of that section.

keywords

Evaluation Type

Assessment Components

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Eligibility for exams

In order to obtain the "frequency" stauts the student cannot miss more that 25 % of the expected total number of PL classes (3 ).

Calculation formula of final grade

The final grade (CF) is obtained by combining the grade of the final exam grade (AE) and the one of the distributed assessment (AD), coming from two mini-tests MT1 and MT2, according to the formula:

CF = MT1*15% + MT2*15% + AE*70%

Students not enrolled in sections must take the final exam and may, if they so wish, transfer the distributed assessment grade from a previous year, therefore not taking the mini-tests in the current semester.  This possibility becomes void after students take and submit the first mini-test.

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

Students legally exempt from obtaining the "frequency" status, who choose not to take the minitests, will be evaluated through an exam covering the whole course material.

Classification improvement

Improvement of the final grade may be obtained through an examination covering the whole course material.  The distributed assesment grade will not be considered for the calculation of this new grade.