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PC/CP200 Electronics Lab I

This page is being updated for Fall 2013.

Teaching Evaluation Results
Course: PC200ATerranceSturtevantFall2012
11students participated in this survey.
19students were registered in the course.
Summary of scale results are percentages.
meandeptfaculty
1This course contributed to my learning. 6.25.36
2The content of this course is consistent with the course outline and calendar description. 6.96.16.3
3The instructor is well prepared for each class meeting.6.76.16.4
4The instructor gives clear explanations.5.84.95.9
5The instructor stimulates my interest in the subject matter of the course.6.14.85.6
6The instructor assists students in dealing with course material and concepts. 5.85.66
7The instructor speaks clearly and audibly.6.84.96.3
8The instructor gives a clear idea of the requirements in this course. 6.55.66.1
9The instructor displays an interest in and concern for students. 6.35.86.2




This is the Physics/Computing 200 Lab page, created and updated by Nora Znotinas and Terry Sturtevant.
Page last updated Monday April 29, 2013
**Items marked this way are not final.**

Introduction

Evaluation Methods

Course Material

Week of ... Lab/ Lecture Reference Material
[ white background indicates required reading;
gray background indicates optional reading]
Sept. 9

Fixed Resistors   [ December 19, 2011 ]
Measuring Resistance   [ April 14, 2011 ]
Measuring Continuity   [ April 14, 2011 ]
Resistor colour coding chart
[PDF; NIC Components, May 2004]
Resistor colour codes: 4- band, 5- band
[GIF; © 1996-2003 Electronix Express]
Resistor colour code: 4, 5, 6 band
[JPG; T. May, University of Colorado]
[PDF 50pp, © Wavetek Meterman, 2000]
Wavetek Meterman 33XR Operator's Manual
[PDF 17pp, © Amprobe,]

MAKE presents: The Resistor
Video about resistors
Lecture:
  1. Electrical terminology   [ May 16, 2011 ]
    Electrical terminology - handout version   [ May 20, 2011 ]
  2. Digital multimeters   [ May 24, 2012 ]
    Digital multimeters - handout version   [ May 24, 2012 ]
  3. Resistors and resistance   [ February 29, 2012 ]
    Resistors and resistance - handout version   [ February 29, 2012 ]

    colour code humour

  4. Review: Breadboards [PDF]   [ May 1, 2012 ]
  5. Group assignment:Adapter assessment
  • Using Breadboards [HTML]   [ May 1, 2012 ]


    Breadboards [screencast of PDF]
    Screencast of PDF document

    Current measurement
    Video about current measurement
Sept. 16 Resistance
[© 1995-2003 M. W. Davidson, Florida State University]
Measuring DC Voltage   [ April 14, 2011 ]
Measuring DC Current   [ April 14, 2011 ]

Bench supplies in N2083 [video]
Video about lab bench layout

Ohm's Law [java applet; © W. Fendt, 2003 ]
Voltage Circuit Simulator   [java applet; G. Bothune, UOregon]



MAKE presents: Ohm's Law
Video about Ohm's Law
Lecture:

xkcd comic

  1. Kirchhoff's laws   [ May 16, 2011 ]
  2. New! Kirchhoff's laws example   [ March 14, 2012 ]
  3. Voltage dividers   [ October 1, 2012 ]
  4. Application of voltage dividers - internal resistance   [ May 24, 2012 ]
  5. CircuitLab - DC analysis
  6. Group assignment:Battery internal resistance

  7. quiz during next week's lecture!
Sept. 23 GREAT electricity animations! (includes examples) [Arizona State University 2002]
Electrical Circuits Review [pdf 18pp; B. M. Fleischer] - sections B.1 and B.2.1 
Voltage Divider [© 2000, C.R. Nave, Georgia State University]

Potentiometers [video]
Video about potentiometers
Voltage dividers [video]
Video about voltage dividers
Lecture:
  1. Resistive sensors and bridge circuits   [ September 27, 2012 ]
    Resistive sensors and bridge circuits - handout version   [ September 27, 2012 ]
    force-dependent resistor
    photoresistor
    thermistor
  2. Wheatstone bridge animation

    electricity humour

  3. CircuitLab - DC Sweep analysis
  4. Voltage, current and Ohm's law quiz [sample]
Sept. 30 Wheatstone Bridges: Introduction [©2003 eFunda; Engineering Fundamentals]
Measuring Strain with Strain Gauges [©2005 National Instruments Corporation]
Lecture:
  1. Review of last week's quiz
  2. Other components   [ April 23, 2013 ]
    Identifying Capacitor Polarity  [ February 4, 2013 ]

    diode operation humour

  3. Simple DC circuits quiz


Identifying Capacitor Polarity [screencast of PDF]
Screencast of PDF document



MAKE presents: The Capacitor
Video about capacitors

MAKE presents: The Diode
Video about diodes
Oct. 7

Thanksgiving Holiday - no lab

 How Capacitors Work [© 1998 - 2003 HowStuffWorks, Inc.]
Charging and Discharging A Capacitor [© 1995-2003 M. W. Davidson and The Florida State University]
Physics of a Diode [©2003 Marvin Casanova ]
Lecture:
  1. Review of last week's quiz
  2. Function generators   [ October 11, 2012 ]
  3. Oscilloscopes   [ October 11, 2012 ]
  4. CircuitLab - Time Domain analysis
  5. Sketching AC signals   [ April 19, 2011 ]
  6. Resistive sensors and bridge circuits quiz [sample]


Oct. 14 Measuring Capacitance   [ April 14, 2011 ]
Lecture:
  1. Review of last week's quiz
  2. Static discharge   [ May 18, 2010 ]

    Video about ESD (1/4)
    Video about ESD (2/4)
    Video about ESD (3/4)
    Video about ESD (4/4)
    Video about ESD prevention measures
Oct. 21 DC and AC voltage measurements with an oscilloscope
Video about DC and AC measurements with an oscilloscope

Finding the origin on an oscilloscope in XY mode
Video about finding the origin on an oscilloscope in XY mode

Use of a function generator - Part I
Video about use of a function generator
Use of a function generator - Part II
Video about use of a function generator (supplementary)

MAKE presents: The Oscilloscope
Video about oscilloscopes


Close-up pictures of signal generators we have in the lab:
White case model (Instek GFG-8217A)

Oscilloscope animation (Flash)

TDS210 Series Digital Storage Oscilloscopes [© Copyright Tektronix, Inc.]
Close-up pictures of signal generators we have in the lab:
Old model (Wavetek 182A)
Black case model (Wavetek FG3C)
Grey case model (Wavetek FG3B)

Philips oscilloscope (PM3207)

XYZ's of Signal Sources [pdf 52pp; © 2005, Tektronix, Inc.]
XYZ's of Oscilloscopes [pdf 64pp; © 2001, Tektronix, Inc.] The Cathode Ray Oscilloscope [pdf 6pp, T. Sturtevant]
TDS1000 and TDS2000 Series Digital Storage Oscilloscopes [© Copyright Tektronix, Inc.]
ABCs of Probes [pdf 48pp; © 2005, Tektronix, Inc.]
Lecture:
  1. Reading data sheets   [ October 18, 2011 ]
    sample datasheet (Fairchild)
    sample datasheet (National Semiconductor)
    sample datasheet (International Rectifier)
    sample datasheet (Photonic Detectors)
  2. Logic gate characteristics - voltage, propagation delay, temperature   [ October 18, 2012 ]
    ** bring datasheets for SN7400, CD4011UB to class
  3. Product Life Cycle (Fairchild)
  4. Other components quiz [sample]
Oct. 28 Logic Family Selection Guide
Static Protection Wrist Straps and Grounding Cords
From Electrostatics to ESD [Compliance Engineering, Sept 2000]
About ESD [© Copyright, 1999-2003, Electrostatic Discharge Association ]
Lecture:
  1. Review of last week's quiz
  2. Logic gate characteristics - current   [ November 1, 2012 ]
    Handout version   [ November 1, 2012 ]
    datasheets for SN7400, CD4011UB
  3. Signals and scope quiz [sample]
Nov. 4
  • Lab Test 2: Build a circuit from schematics and provide specified test measurements. The circuit may contain resistors, diodes, LEDs or capacitors. One circuit; one hour.

  • Lab Test 3: Drawing a circuit schematic from measurements - You will get a black box and you will describe the circuit inside the black box. One box; one hour. Box may contain resistors and diodes (including LEDs).
 Understanding and Interpreting Standard-Logic Data Sheets
[PDF 68pp, S. M. Nolan and J. M. Soltero, Texas Instruments, May 2003]
Lecture:
  1. Review of last week's quiz
  2. Logic gates III: Open collector and open drain outputs   [ November 13, 2012 ]
    Handout version   [ November 11, 2010 ]
    datasheet for SN7401
  3. Logic gate characteristics IV - Tri-state outputs   [ May 20, 2011 ]
    Handout version   [ May 20, 2011 ]
    Processor internal architecture
    "Standard" Processor internal architecture
    Z80 system architecture (outside mpu)
    Hyperphysics microprocessor page
  4. Logic gate voltage quiz [sample]
Nov. 11
  • Lab: Logic Gate Characteristics II - Current  [ November 14, 2011 ]
  • There are no postlab requirements for this week's lab
  • Do online quiz on MyLearningSpace between 7 p.m. today and 11:59 p.m. Wednesday evening.
 Input/Output Current and Fan-Out  [© 2003 National Instruments Corporation]

Lecture: practice time in lab for last lab test.
Nov. 18 Introduction to Wired-OR Outputs and Open-Collector Circuits   [© 2003 National Instruments Corporation]
7401 datasheet   [© 1995 National Semiconductor]

Lecture: practice time in lab for last lab test.
Nov. 25
 What is a Tri-state buffer? [© 2003 by Charles C. Lin]

Tristate Buffers
Video about tristate buffers

Lecture: practice time in lab for last lab test.
Dec. 2

Lab Test #4 (Oscilloscope)
There will be an unknown signal which you will have to display and then measure a parameters; (shape, amplitude, offset, frequency).
You can practice for this with your partner by having one person set up a signal and then adjust the scope to random settings, and then have the other person find the signal and characterize it.

 
     

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