PC221 Analog Electronics I

Video Project

For many subjects, it is easier to illustrate than to explain in words alone. For this reason, it would be useful to have short (i.e. 5 minutes or less) videos for several topics in analog electronics. The process of producing one of these videos will be educational as well, since one of the best ways to learn something is to figure out how to explain it to someone else.

Objectives

1. To create useful videos about important topics in analog electronics

Procedure

There are several topics which could be explained using either a video or a screencast. Each one has important features to be covered:

Videos

Several topics can be illustrated by taking videos of measurements on actual circuits in operation with appropriate narration. These topics include:

• Resistance, capacitance, and inductance measurement with a digital multimeter
  This includes
  why the component needs to be removed from the circuit
  lead arrangements for each device
  different meter for inductance
  
  You'll want to use different values than the ones they have to measure in the lab.
  
  
• AC and DC analysis of a circuit
  This includes
  how superposition works
  (This will be be illustrated best by showing actual measurements on an appropriate circuit.)
  You'll need to show it schematically as well.
  
  You'll want to use a different circuit than any of the ones they have to measure in the lab.
  
  
• Bode plots
  This includes
  what a Bode plot is
  How to go from normal measurements to create one
  How to go from a Bode plot to get normal quantities
  (This will be be illustrated best by showing actual measurements on an appropriate circuit.)
  You'll need to show it schematically as well.
  
  You'll want to use a different circuit than any of the ones they have to measure in the lab.
  
  

Webcam software (for Windows)

Screen-Cast-O-Matic.com

Screencasts

Using a computer algebra package like Maxima or Maple can make Kirchhoff's analysis of circuits much easier. However, there don't seem to be many videos about that yet. Topics include:

• DC circuit analysis with the Maxima Online Calculator
  This includes
  using Kirchhoff's Laws to get equations
  using ``solve'' to get current values, both algebraic and numeric
  getting resistor voltage equations, both algebraic and numeric
  
  You want to emphasize how this makes it easy to change component values and recalculate results.
  
  You'll want to use different a circuit than any of the ones they have to measure in the lab.
  
  
• AC circuit analysis with the Maxima Online Calculator
  This includes
  using Kirchhoff's Laws with phasors; i.e. complex impedances
  You can assume viewers are already familiar with what's covered in the DC analysis topis above; i.e. you don't have to show how to set up Kirchhoff's equations - just how to use them with complex numbers.
  getting magniutudes and phases of voltages and currents, both algebraic and numeric
  using ``limit'' to get DC and high frequency limits of behaviour, both algebraic and numeric
  
  You want to emphasize how this makes it easy to change component values and recalculate results.
  
  You'll want to use different a circuit than any of the ones they have to measure in the lab.
  
  

Screencasts Showing Different Tools

Using CircuitLab for Circuit Simulation

Many features of CircuitLab will be more easily illustrated with screencasts; i.e. videos made by recording what is shown on the computer screen with appropriate narration. These topics include:

• Operating point analysis with CircuitLab
  This includes
  how to display voltages and currents
  how to get voltages across a component when neither end is at ground
  the meaning of negative signs in currents
  
  You'll want to use different a circuit than any of the ones they have to measure in the lab.
  
  
• Transient analysis with CircuitLab
  This includes
  how to set up sources
  how to choose time parameters
  how to use show the voltage across a component when neither end is at ground
  
  You'll want to use different a circuit than any of the ones they have to measure in the lab.
  
  
• AC analysis with CircuitLab
  This includes
  how to set up sources
  how to choose frequency parameters
  how to display magnitude and phase together or separately
  
  You'll want to use different a circuit than any of the ones they have to measure in the lab.
  
  
• DC sweep with CircuitLab
  This includes
  how to set up sources
  how to choose sweep parameters
  how to measure
  how to change the x axis variable
  
  You'll want to use different a circuit than any of the ones they have to measure in the lab.
  
  
• Exporting CircuitLab output to other packages
  This includes
  schematics
  waveforms
  data (eg. to a spreadsheet)
  Part of the value of exporting data is so that a simulation can be shown on the same graph as actual measurements.
  
  You'll want to use different a circuit than any of the ones they have to measure in the lab.