Course Description
Physics 242 presents a one-course introduction to electronics, including some circuit theory, analog electronics, and digital electronics. Experimental physicists often need to design and construct electronic circuits to acquire data from an experiment or interface to a computer, and all scientists and engineers can benefit from a better understanding of the capabilities and limitations of the electronic instrumentation they use. Electronics is a fascinating area, incorporating interesting ideas at different levels, from semiconductor physics to the mathematics of circuit theory to the programming of microcontrollers. Electronics is not just a challenging academic subject, though: it is also a fun hobby for many. Don’t expect to learn everything in one course (despite the surprising heft of the textbook)—electronics is a large field!—but hopefully you will get a fun and challenging introduction to the subject.
Class Meetings
Honor Code, Internet Solutions, and AI (Artificial Intelligence Software)
You are expected to abide by the Knox
College Honor Code.
You may work together in groups to discuss and solve problems related to the homework problems and lab reports. In writing up your lab reports and calculating final solutions on the problem sets, each person must do his or her own work. The use of online homework aids or solution manuals is prohibited. Duplicate lab reports are not allowed, even by lab partners. You may share data with your lab partner only if both of you were present in the lab together collecting the data. You many not share any text written as part of your lab report.
The use of online homework aids and
solution manuals is prohibited.
You additionally are
not allowed to use AI (for example, chatGPT) to seek solutions to point
bearing
work (homework problems, lab reports, quizzes, and exams).
Doing so is a
violation of the Honor Code as you are presenting work that is not
yours for credit.
Additionally, while AI might effectively solve some of the problems
we’ll encounter, relying on it deprives you of the
opportunity to learn the underlying principles of physics. The purpose
of problem-solving is to help you learn the process, which often
involves working through challenges and making mistakes and learning
from them. Therefore, solutions provided by AI or other internet
sources are not appropriate to submit or use.
However, this does not mean that you can never use AI in relation to
the class. You may use AI to clarify content and assist with
understanding (but not for homework problems, lab reports, quizzes,
and exams). Always keep in mind, though, that AI frequently
makes errors in physics, particularly with mathematics, so use it
cautiously and critically. It is a poor substitute for speaking to your
professor!
As always, if you
are unsure if something is allowed, please ask!
Attendance and Make-Up Policy
Class attendance is required, and unexcused absences may trigger deductions from the course average. Up to 3 absences can be excused, by reporting the absence and the reason for it before the beginning of class. Only students with excused absences are allowed to make up a missed quiz or exam.
Lab Attendance and Tardiness Policy
Late labs are penalized 10% per business day. Instructions for the use of the lab equipment and on safety issues are presented at the beginning of the lab period, so it is particularly important to arrive on time for lab. Tardy students will be penalized 10% on the rst occasion, and 20% for subsequent occasions. Late arrivals may need to work alone if their lab partner(s) are already well along, at the discretion of the lab instructor.
Late Policy
Like most science courses, Physics 242 covers ground at a rapid rate and you are strongly advised not to fall behind. Please contact the instructor as early as possible if you need help. Extensions can be arranged in case of illness, emergencies, and travel (but not due to deadlines in other classes). You must contact the instructor before the due date to request an extension. Homework can be submitted late for 50% credit. Labs can be submitted late with a penalty of 10% per business day.
| Homework | 15% |
| Lab | 15% |
| In-class exams | 20% each |
| Final exam |
30% |
Exam Schedule
| Exam
1 |
Friday,
Jan. 30 |
| Exam 2 |
Friday, Feb. 20 |
| Final Exam |
| Week |
Chapter |
Topics |
| I. Circuit Theory | ||
| 1 |
1 |
Resistive network
analysis, node voltage and loop current, source transformations
(Thevenin's Thm), superposition, nonlinear elements and load lines |
| 2, 3 |
2, 3 | AC network analysis, phasors, impedance |
| 4 |
5 | Frequency response,
filters, Bode plots |
| Exam 1 |
||
| II. Analog electronics | ||
| 5 |
6 | Operational amplifiers and applications |
| 6 |
8 |
Semiconductors and diodes, pn junctions, diode circuit models and applications |
| 7 |
9 | Bipolar junction
transistors: operation, circuit models, applications |
| Exam 2 |
||
| 8 |
11 |
Combinational
logic, Boolean algebra, Karnaugh maps |
| 9 |
12 | Special purpose integrated circuits: comparator, timing circuits, analog-digital conversion, sequential logic |
|
10 |
|
Arduino microcontroller |
| Final
Exam |
||