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Unit outline_

ELEC1103: Fundamentals of Elec and Electronic Eng

Semester 1, 2023 [Normal day] - Remote

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

Unit details and rules

Academic unit School of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

Basic knowledge of differentiation and integration, and PHYS1003

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Yash Shrivastava, yash.shrivastava@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Supervised exam
? 
Final exam
2-hour Supervised (in-person) exam
60% Formal exam period 2 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO5 LO6 LO8 LO9
Skills-based evaluation Tutorials
Tutorials
20% Multiple weeks weekly
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO6 LO8 LO9
Skills-based evaluation Labs
Labs
20% Multiple weeks weekly
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO7 LO8

Assessment summary

  • Tutorials: Students will be required to participate in analytical problem solving sessions on the material covered in the lectures and computer aided solution / illustration. These sessions will give students the opportunity to explore the concepts in detail and  understand the material covered in the lecture. The solutions for the tutorials and computer codes will be available on Canvas after the session.
  • Labs: Students will work in groups of two (and occasionally three) assigned by the unit coordinator. You are encouraged to keep a detailed log book for the purposes of lab work analysis.
  • Midterm exam: The midterm exam will be of the same format as the final exam but of shorter duration. The exam will be based on the lecture material and tutorials. The exam will be closed book and closed notes and will test student’s conceptual understanding of the material. Any complex formulae needed will be provided on the question paper.
  • Final exam: The final exam is a comprehensive exam to assess student’s skills learned throughout the semester. The exam will be closed book and closed notes and will test student’s conceptual understanding of the material. Any complex formulae needed will be provided on the question paper.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Introduction Lecture (2 hr)  
Week 02 Circuit elements Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)  
Week 03 Resistive circuits Lecture and tutorial (7 hr)  
Week 04 Techniques of Circuit Analysis Lecture and tutorial (7 hr)  
Week 05 Techniques of Circuit Analysis and Operational Amplifiers Lecture and tutorial (7 hr)  
Week 06 Inductance, Capacitance, and Mutual Inductance Lecture and tutorial (7 hr)  
Week 07 Response of (first order) RL and RC Circuits Lecture and tutorial (7 hr)  
Week 08 No lecture Lecture and tutorial (7 hr)  
Week 09 Response of (second order) RLC Circuits Lecture and tutorial (7 hr)  
Week 10 Sinusoidal Steady-State Analysis Lecture and tutorial (7 hr)  
Week 11 Sinusoidal Steady-State Power Calculations Lecture and tutorial (7 hr)  
Week 12 Balanced Three-Phase Circuits Lecture and tutorial (7 hr)  
Week 13 Review Lecture and tutorial (7 hr)  

Attendance and class requirements

  • Independent study: Read textbook and other material, prepare for lectures, allow enough time for studying assignments and homeworks and their timely delivery. Read laboratory notes in advance, work effectively as part a laboratory team and prepare for individual laboratory tests and laboratory works.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

All readings for this unit can be accessed through the Library eReserve, available on Canvas.

  • James Nilsson and Susan Riedel, Electric Circuits (11th). Pearson, 2018. 9781292261041.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. draw on diverse sources of information and synthesise the information to make clear and meaningful conclusions with respect to the lab and tutorial work
  • LO2. clearly explain the workings of the circuits in the lab experiments and lab tests
  • LO3. learn in a team and participate constructively in the lab experiments by drawing on diverse skills and aptitudes of the team members
  • LO4. appreciate the professional and ethical responsibilities of an electrical engineer
  • LO5. evaluate performance of electrical and electronic circuits including the ability to recognize engineering limitations
  • LO6. analyse electrical circuits proficiently
  • LO7. use electronic lab equipment, making electrical measurements and interpretations
  • LO8. analyse and design simple circuits using a clearly defined system based approach to solve a specific problem
  • LO9. demonstrate a basic understanding of physics of inductors, resistors and capacitors

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

One hour per week of discussion session has been introduced that is purely devoted to problems raised by the students.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.