Electrical Circuits & Devices (H6098Z)
Note to prospective students: this content is drawn from our database of current courses and modules. The detail does vary from year to year as our courses are constantly under review and continuously improving, but this information should give you a real flavour of what it is like to study at Sussex.
We’re currently reviewing teaching and assessment of our modules in light of the COVID-19 situation. We’ll publish the latest information as soon as possible.
Electrical Circuits & Devices
Module H6098Z
Module details for 2024/25.
15 credits
FHEQ Level 4
Module Outline
This module is an introduction to the fundamentals of electrical engineering.The main aim of this module is to introduce the basic concepts of circuit theory and to develop an in-depth understanding of the behaviour of electrical circuits built of basic components such as resistors, inductors and capacitors. The module provides the students with essential techniques to analyse electrical circuits such as node voltage and loop current methods, Thevenin and Norton equivalent circuits, transient analysis of RL, RC and RLC circuits, phasor techniques for AC steady-state analysis, and many more. The knowledge and insights gained in this module provide a fundament for more advanced modules investigating electrical, electronic and electromechanical systems.
Module Topics
DC circuits: Ohm's law; Kirchhoff's laws, node and mesh analysis; Thvenin's theorem, Norton's theorem, superposition principle. AC circuits: inductance (L) and Capacitance (C); sinusoidal steady-state, phasors. Energy dissipation and storage. Frequency response of R-L, R-C and R-L-C circuits, resonance. Transient response of R-L, R-C and R-L-C circuits. Operational amplifiers: inverting, non-inverting and differential amplifiers; integrators and differentiators; simple filters. Semiconductor devices: diodes, junction transistor as a switch, Boolean algebra, Karnaugh maps, Combinational logic. Simple circuit applications: rectifiers.
Module learning outcomes
Demonstrate knowledge of fundamental circuit principles.
Demonstrate knowledge of fundamental circuit design.
Able to design simple circuits to a specification.
Able to build and test circuits in the laboratory.
| Type | Timing | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | 30.00% | |
| Coursework components. Weighted as shown below. | ||
| Report | XVAC Week 2 | 30.00% |
| Report | XVAC Week 3 | 30.00% |
| Problem Set | T1 Week 8 | 20.00% |
| Problem Set | T1 Week 10 | 20.00% |
| Unseen Examination | Semester 1 Assessment Week 2 Tue 02:15 | 70.00% |
Timing
Submission deadlines may vary for different types of assignment/groups of students.
Weighting
Coursework components (if listed) total 100% of the overall coursework weighting value.
Dr Hao Sun
Convenor
/profiles/554029
Dr Fan Zhang
Assess convenor
/profiles/525222
Dr Xueping Ni
Convenor
/profiles/554031
Please note that the University will use all reasonable endeavours to deliver courses and modules in accordance with the descriptions set out here. However, the University keeps its courses and modules under review with the aim of enhancing quality. Some changes may therefore be made to the form or content of courses or modules shown as part of the normal process of curriculum management.
The University reserves the right to make changes to the contents or methods of delivery of, or to discontinue, merge or combine modules, if such action is reasonably considered necessary by the University. If there are not sufficient student numbers to make a module viable, the University reserves the right to cancel such a module. If the University withdraws or discontinues a module, it will use its reasonable endeavours to provide a suitable alternative module.