Linear Circuits 1: DC Analysis Course Syllabus
Full curriculum breakdown — modules, lessons, estimated time, and outcomes.
Overview: This course provides a comprehensive introduction to DC circuit analysis, designed for beginners in electrical engineering. Over approximately 340 hours, learners will progress through foundational concepts to advanced techniques, culminating in a capstone project. The curriculum emphasizes practical problem-solving using core principles like Ohm’s Law, Kirchhoff’s Laws, and circuit theorems, preparing students for real-world applications in electronics and engineering.
Module 1: Introduction to Electrical Circuits
Estimated time: 85 hours
- Basic Electrical Concepts: voltage, current, resistance, and power
- Ohm’s Law and its application in simple circuits
- Kirchhoff’s Current Law (KCL)
- Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law (KVL)
Module 2: Series and Parallel Circuits
Estimated time: 85 hours
- Analysis of resistive circuits in series configurations
- Analysis of resistive circuits in parallel configurations
- Combination series-parallel circuits
- Power calculations in DC circuits
Module 3: Advanced Circuit Techniques
Estimated time: 85 hours
- Node Voltage Method
- Mesh Current Method
- Application of KVL and KCL to complex circuits
- Problem-solving strategies for multi-loop circuits
Module 4: Thevenin’s and Norton’s Theorems
Estimated time: 85 hours
- Thevenin’s Theorem and circuit simplification
- Norton’s Theorem and equivalent circuits
- Source transformations
- Maximum power transfer theorem
Module 5: Operational Amplifiers and DC Circuits
Estimated time: 85 hours
- Introduction to operational amplifiers (op-amps)
- Ideal op-amp characteristics
- Op-amp configurations in DC circuits (inverting, non-inverting)
- Applications of op-amps in practical DC circuits
Module 6: Final Project
Estimated time: 85 hours
- Comprehensive circuit analysis using all learned techniques
- Design and simplification of a DC circuit using Thevenin/Norton equivalents
- Application of op-amps in a functional DC circuit design
Prerequisites
- Basic understanding of algebra and mathematical functions
- Fundamental knowledge of physics, particularly electricity concepts
- Familiarity with scientific notation and units
What You'll Be Able to Do After
- Apply Ohm’s Law and Kirchhoff’s Laws to analyze DC circuits
- Analyze series, parallel, and combination resistive circuits
- Use node voltage and mesh current methods for complex circuit solutions
- Simplify circuits using Thevenin’s and Norton’s theorems
- Design and analyze basic op-amp circuits in DC environments