PHYS 200(F) Electronics

Electronic instruments are an indispensable part of modern laboratory work throughout the sciences. This course will start with the fundamental concepts, such as impedance, necessary to understand the operation of any electrical circuit and will introduce standard measurement instruments, such as oscilloscopes. After building this foundation we will undertake a series of projects chosen to illustrate the kinds of electronic devices and design problems a working scientist is apt to encounter. The emphasis will be on simple circuits for detecting and controlling physical parameters such as light intensity, temperature, speed, and position. We will also investigate some simple digital circuits. The class meetings will be a variable mixture of lab, lecture, and discussion designed to provide ample opportunity for hands-on experience. Evaluation will be based on lab work, class participation, problem sets, a midterm, and a final exam. Prerequisite: Mathematics 104 (or equivalent high school calculus). No prior physics is required.

Hour:  STRAIT