Syllabus
PHYS 3340: Electronics
Fall Semester 2008
Dr. P. Stephens, Dept. of Biology & Physics
Office: UC 219; phone: (678) 797-2509; psteph12@kennesaw.edu
Course Description
The primary objective of this course is to present the fundamental principles of analog and
digital electronic circuitry and their application to modern technology. The course will begin
with basic DC and AC circuits with resistors, inductors and capacitors. Next the p-n junction will
be discussed and its use in diodes and transistors, with a particular emphasis on applications for
signal processing. The course will finish with the development of logic gates and flip-flops and
their use in digital electronics. This course will serve the student in the understanding of basic
workings of instruments as well as everyday electronic devices. The lab involves hands-on work
with both analog and digital electronic components.
Exams and Grading Scheme
There will be roughly 6-8 homework assignments, two (2) mid-term exams and final. There
will also be a written project which will be handed out after the second midterm. No make up
exams unless I am notified prior to the exam. Missed exams will be replaced with the grade
made on the final.
Grading Scheme
1
2
3
4
5
lab 20%
project 10 %
2 mid-term exams 40%
final exam 30%
A> 90%,B > 80%C> 70%,D > 60%F< 60%
The Text
Principles of Electronic Instrumentation. Diefenderfer and Holton (Saunders College Publishing,
3rd edition)
Course Objectives
I. Knowledge and Conceptual Objectives:
 Understand how electric potential and current are related through various
components.
 Understand the p-n junction and its use in diodes and transistors
 Understand operational amplifiers
 Understand physics of logic gates
 Understand power consumption and limitations of real components
 Understand complex numbers and their use in phases
 Understand Fourier series for periodic functions
II. Skills Objectives
 Be able to analyze the current and voltage properties of a circuit
 Be able to design a circuit for use in instrumentation, e.g. signal processing,
measurement of physical properties.
 Be able to design logic circuits to perform a desired operation
Academic Integrity
Every KSU student is responsible for upholding the provisions of the Student Code of Conduct,
as published in the Undergraduate and Graduate Catalogs. Section II of the Student Code of
Conduct addresses the University's policy on academic honesty, including provisions regarding
plagiarism and cheating, unauthorized access to University materials,
misrepresentation/falsification of University records or academic work, malicious removal,
retention, or destruction of library materials, malicious/intentional misuse of computer facilities
and/or services, and misuse of student identification cards. Incidents of alleged academic
misconduct will be handled through the established procedures of the University Judiciary
Program, which includes either an "informal" resolution by a faculty member, resulting in a
grade adjustment, or a formal hearing procedure, which may subject a student to the Code of
Conduct's minimum one semester suspension requirement.
Attendance & Participation
Students are expected to attend the lectures, take all tests and the final exam, and complete all
homework assignments.
Withdrawal
Last day to withdraw without academic penalty is TBA. The university's withdrawal policy is
explained http://www.kennesaw.edu/registrar/withdrawalpolicy.shtml.
Tentative Schedule
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Aug 19 – review of voltage, current and units
Aug 26 – DC circuit analysis using mesh loops and Thevenin’s equivalent circuit
Sep 2 – RC and RL circuits for DC input
Sep 9 – Complex numbers, phases
Sep 16 – AC circuit analysis with complex numbers, RLC circuit, transformers
Sep 23 – Exam 1
Sep 30 – p-n junction, diodes
Oct 7 – Transducers
Oct 14 – Transistors
Oct 21 – Operational Amplifiers, Waveform generators
Oct 28 – Exam 2
12
13
14
15
16
17
Nov 4 – Boolean algebra, NAND gate, flip-flops
Nov 11 – Counters, multiplexers
Nov 18 – Computer arithmetic
Nov 25 – Thanksgiving break
Dec 3 – Review
Dec 4-10 – Comprehensive final exam