A First Lab in Circuits and Electronics

* Experiments are linked to real applications. Students are likely to be interested and excited to learn more and explore. Example of experiments linked to real applications can be seen in Experiment 2, steps 6, 7, 15, and 16; Experiment 5, steps 6 to 10 and Experiment 7, steps 12 to 20. * Self-contained background to all electronics experiments. Students will be able to follow without having taken an electronics course. Includes a self-contained introduction based on circuits only. For the instructor this provides flexibility as to when to run the lab. It can run concurrently with the first circuits analysis course. * Review background sections are provided. This convenient text feature provides an alternative point of view; helps provide a uniform background for students of different theoretical backgrounds. * A "touch-and-feel" approach helps to provide intuition and to make things "click". Rather than thinking of the lab as a set of boring procedures, students get the idea that what they are learning is real. * Encourages students to explore and to ask "what if" questions. Helps students become active learners. * Introduces students to simple design at a very early stage. Helps students see the relevance of what they are learning, and to become active learners. * Helps students become tinkerers and to experiment on their own. Students are encouraged to become creative, and their mind is opened to new possibilities. This also benefits their subsequent professional work and/or graduate study.

Table of Contents:
Experiment 1: Measuring DC Voltages and Currents Experiment 2: Simple DC Circuits Resistors and Resistive Sensors Experiment 3: Generating, Observing, and Hearing Time-Varying Signals Experiment 4: Basic Characteristics of Op Amps and Comparators Experiment 5: Amplifier Design Using Op Amps A Sound System Experiment 6: RC Circuit Transients More on Measurement Techniques Experiment 7: Filters, Frequency Response and Tone Control Experiment 8: LC Circuits, Resonance, and Transformers Experiment 9: Diodes and their Applications Experiment 10: Modulation and Radio Reception Experiment 11: MOSFET Characteristics and Applications Experiment 12: Principles of Amplifiers Experiment 13: Bipolar Transistors and Amplifiers Experiment 14: Digital Logic Circuits Gates and Latches Experiment 15: D flip-flops and shift registers Experiment 16: JK flip-flops and ripple counters Appendix A: Component value codes Appendix B: Oscilloscope probe calibration Appendix C: Decibels Appendix D: Supply bypassing Appendix E: Data input, clear and clock switches Appendix F: Producing a clock signal by using a function generator Appendix G: Equipment and parts list