Electronics Foundations: Basic Circuits Course

Lesson 1 • Ohm's Law and Its Applications

Introduces the linear relationship V = IR and applies it to simple calculations. Students solve for any one quantity given the other two.

Lesson 2 • Electrical Power and Energy

Defines power as the rate of energy transfer and introduces P = VI. Connects power calculations to real-world component ratings.

Lesson 3 • Voltage, Current, and Resistance

Defines the three fundamental electrical quantities and their units. Provides the conceptual foundation for all circuit analysis that follows.

Lesson 4 • Circuit Diagrams and Symbols

Teaches standard schematic symbols and diagram conventions used throughout the course. Students read and sketch basic circuit schematics accurately.

Lesson 1 • Node Voltage Method

Presents a systematic node-based approach to circuit analysis. Reduces complex circuits to a minimal set of equations using node voltages.

Lesson 2 • Mesh Current Method

Introduces mesh analysis as an alternative to node analysis for planar circuits. Students choose the most efficient method for a given topology.

Lesson 3 • Kirchhoff's Voltage and Current Laws

Introduces KVL and KCL as universal conservation principles. Students write and solve loop and node equations for multi-branch circuits.

Lesson 4 • Series and Parallel Resistor Circuits

Covers equivalent resistance formulas for series and parallel configurations. Students simplify multi-resistor networks into single equivalent values.

Lesson 5 • Thevenin and Norton Equivalents

Teaches circuit simplification using equivalent source models. Students replace complex networks with two-element equivalents for load analysis.

Lesson 1 • Capacitors in Series and Parallel

Derives equivalent capacitance for series and parallel combinations. Students simplify capacitor networks for circuit analysis.

Lesson 2 • RC and RL Transient Responses

Analyzes first-order circuit responses to step inputs using time constants. Students calculate voltage and current waveforms during charging and discharging.

Lesson 3 • Capacitor Construction and Behavior

Explains how capacitors store charge on parallel plates and defines capacitance. Links physical construction to electrical characteristics.

Lesson 4 • Inductor Construction and Behavior

Describes how inductors store energy in magnetic fields and defines inductance. Connects coil geometry to inductance value.

Lesson 1 • Impedance of R, L, and C Elements

Defines impedance as the AC generalization of resistance. Students compute impedance for each element type at a given frequency.

Lesson 2 • AC Circuit Analysis with Phasors

Applies KVL, KCL, and Ohm's Law in phasor domain to AC circuits. Students solve for phasor voltages and currents in series and parallel AC networks.

Lesson 3 • Phasor Representation of AC Signals

Converts sinusoidal time-domain signals into phasor notation. Enables algebraic manipulation of AC quantities instead of differential equations.

Lesson 4 • Sinusoidal Waveform Characteristics

Defines amplitude, frequency, period, and phase for sinusoidal signals. Students extract all waveform parameters from equations and graphs.

Lesson 1 • Passive Filter Design

Covers low-pass, high-pass, band-pass, and band-stop filter topologies. Students select component values to achieve specified cutoff frequencies.

Lesson 2 • Frequency Response and Bode Plots

Introduces transfer functions and Bode magnitude and phase plots. Students sketch and interpret frequency response curves for basic circuits.

Lesson 3 • Practical Filter Considerations

Addresses real-world filter limitations including component tolerances and loading effects. Students evaluate filter performance under non-ideal conditions.

Lesson 4 • Series RLC Resonance

Derives the resonant frequency of a series RLC circuit and analyzes impedance behavior. Students calculate resonant frequency, bandwidth, and Q factor.

Lesson 1 • Rectifier Circuits

Analyzes half-wave and full-wave rectifier topologies for AC-to-DC conversion. Students calculate output voltage, ripple, and PIV ratings.

Lesson 2 • Diode Circuit Models

Introduces ideal, constant-voltage-drop, and small-signal diode models. Students select the appropriate model for a given analysis task.

Lesson 3 • Zener Diodes and Voltage Regulation

Covers Zener breakdown and its use in shunt voltage regulators. Students design simple Zener regulator circuits with appropriate resistor values.

Lesson 4 • Semiconductor Physics Basics

Covers intrinsic and extrinsic semiconductors, doping, and carrier types. Provides the physical basis for understanding p-n junction behavior.

Lesson 5 • Special-Purpose Diodes

Surveys LEDs, Schottky, and photodiodes and their unique characteristics. Students match diode type to application requirements.

Lesson 1 • BJT Switching Circuits

Applies BJT saturation and cutoff regions to digital switching applications. Students design transistor switches for driving loads from logic signals.

Lesson 2 • Common-Collector and Common-Base Configurations

Covers emitter-follower and common-base amplifiers and their trade-offs. Students select the appropriate configuration for impedance matching tasks.

Lesson 3 • Common-Emitter Amplifier

Analyzes the common-emitter configuration for voltage gain and impedance. Students compute gain, input impedance, and output impedance.

Lesson 4 • DC Biasing of BJT Circuits

Covers fixed-bias, voltage-divider, and emitter-stabilized bias configurations. Students calculate quiescent operating points for stable amplifier design.

Lesson 5 • BJT Structure and Operating Regions

Describes NPN and PNP transistor structures and their four operating regions. Students identify the active, saturation, cutoff, and breakdown regions.

Lesson 1 • Integrator and Differentiator Circuits

Replaces feedback resistors with capacitors to perform mathematical operations. Students analyze integrator and differentiator output waveforms.

Lesson 2 • Inverting and Non-Inverting Amplifiers

Derives closed-loop gain expressions for both fundamental configurations. Students select resistor values to achieve a specified gain.

Lesson 3 • Summing, Difference, and Instrumentation Amplifiers

Extends op-amp analysis to multi-input and differential configurations. Students design summing mixers and differential amplifiers for sensor applications.

Lesson 4 • Comparators and Schmitt Triggers

Uses op-amps in open-loop and positive-feedback configurations for switching. Students design comparators with hysteresis to eliminate output chatter.

Lesson 5 • Ideal Op-Amp Characteristics

Defines infinite gain, infinite input impedance, and zero output impedance as ideal op-amp properties. Students apply the virtual short and virtual open concepts.