Applied Electronics

Credit Hours (1-1) – 1 hour Theory + 2 hours of Lab

Course Offered to: CS, EE, ME, MechX (Semester 1)
Prerequisites: None

Course Objectives:

 To provide students with the fundamental knowledge of Electronics and electrical circuits.
 To allow students gain in-depth theoretical and hands-on understanding of current and
voltages in circuits using Ohm’s Law.
 To familiarize students with essential electronic components, their purpose, operation and
usage, to enable them to make their own practical circuits on breadboard and veroboard.

Learning Outcomes:
Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:

1) Understand the fundamentals of Ohm’s law

2) Use Resistors, Capacitors, Diodes, LDRs, Variable Resistors, and other basic components
3) Make practical projects using 555 Timers, Op-Amps, Transistors, Relays, Transformers, etc
4) Trouble-shoot electronic circuits and identify faulty components
5) Use breadboards for prototyping and work with veroboards with fluency in soldering.

Course Evaluation:

Attendance
Quizzes / Assignments 10%
Labs / Projects 30%
Mid-Term Exam 20%
Final Exam 40%

Suggested Text Books:

 Ward Silver, Kirk Kleinschmidt, Electronics All-in-One for Dummies, 2012
 Thomas L. Floyed, David L. Buchla, Electronics Fundamentals Circuits, Analysis, Devices and
Applications, 2015.
Course Outline:

Weeks Lecture/Presentation Topics Practical (Lab) Content / Projects

Lab Safety, Electricity precautions.
Introduction to the course. Course
Familiarizing with basic electronics
plan, objectives, learning outcomes.
components: LED, Motor, Switches (types),
Introduction to Electric Circuits -
Resistors, Color Codes to determine value.
Current, Charge, Voltage and Power,
Task: Given the color-code sheet,
Voltage and Current concept (videos),
determine the resistance of a given resistor.
Week 1 AC vs DC Current (uses, differences),
Structure and use of breadboard to create
Resistance, Ohm's Law, Equivalent
simple circuits. Measuring Voltage,
Resistance, Series & Parallel circuits,
Resistance, and Current using Multimeter.
Exercises (circuits),
Tasks: Reproduce the shown circuits on
Introduce: Breadboards, LED, bulb,
breadboard, calculate and compare Ohms’
DC Motor (2-wire), Electrical Safety
Law calculations with measured readings.

Quick Revision, Review of Breadboard

structure with example circuits. Working with different types of Variable
Introduce: Variable Resistors (types), Resistors to control the speed/brightness
The basic circuit diagram, flow of (DC Motor/Bulbs). Measuring Current and
current through resistors, concept of Resistance.
potential divider circuit. Task: Create your own circuit on
Introduce: Capacitors (uses, breadboard that can control the speed of
Week 2 application, behaviour). Combination the motor (given the voltage range)
of Resistor and Capacitor, Timer Create RC Timer circuits with switches to
concept, Measuring Time Constant. see how electricity is stored in a capacitor
Introduce: Transistors (concept, and released over a known period of time.
purpose, uses, applications). Types of Task: Select the right combination of R and
Transistors (BJT, FET). NPN vs PNP. C to create a simple timer circuit.
Understand how transistors are used
as an electronic switch. (examples)

Introduce: Veroboard, Soldering Use of veroboard and soldering techniques.

Techniques (videos). Use of Buzzer. Create simple circuits on veroboard.
Reproducing circuit diagram on Example Circuit: Water level detector
Week 3
veroboard. Safety precautions. Mini Project:
Transistor based circuits examples, (a) Darkness activated Street Lights
uses, applications. (b) Heat activated Alarm (buzzer)

Use of relays to control High Voltage

Introduce: Diodes, Relays, Voltage
appliances with simple electronics (sensors
Week 4 Regulator. Different types of Relays.
and switches continued from last week,
How they work. Applications.
applied on high-voltage output)
 DC Motors, H-Bridge, Direction and Task: Create H-Bridge to control the speed
speed control circuit. and direction of a simple DC motor.
Week 5 Introduce: Using NPN Transistors to Mini Projects:
amplify the current (saturation state). (a) Futuristic Touch-based Light Switch
Darlington Pair and its applications. (b) Static Electricity Detector
Introduction to ICs and 555 Timer. Introduction to 555 Timer configurations.
Its function, operation, uses, and Make timing circuits to blink an LED.
Week 6
applications in Electronics. How to Implement variable resistor to change the
create square wave pulses. blink frequency. Tasks: Dual-LED Flash, etc.
555 Timer continued. Creating 555 Timer circuits on Veroboard.
Duty Cycle & Frequency of 555 Timer Changing Duty Cycle and Frequency of
Week 7
Modes of 555 Timer (Astable, oscillations. Mini-Project: Create an
Monostable, Bistable). Applications. automatic road barrier (circuit and model)
Speaker circuit with 555 Timer (Ticking
bomb sound). Use variable resistor to alter
Introduce: Speakers. How speaker the frequency and notice the difference.
Week 8 works. Producing sound with speakers Tasks: Alter the frequency of sound using
using 555 Timer. (a) Light intensity (b) Temperature (c) Flex
sensor (d) pressure, etc.
Mini-Project: Create a mini 7-button Piano
Week 9 Mid-Term Examination
Week 10 Project Week: Creating a levitating water droplet effect using 555 Timer [10 marks]
Introduction to Op-Amps. Create circuit
Op-Amp (741), Purpose, Usage and
Week 11 based on 741-Op-Amp. Task: Automatic
Operation
Light Control using LDR through Op-Amp
Make your own Step-Down Transformer
and Rectify the circuit to run low power
Introduce: Voltage Regulators, Heat
Week 12 appliances. Mini Project: Create a
Sinks, Inductors, Transformers
prototype of a stun gun (using 555 IC and
step-up transformer)
Week 13 Final Project:
Week 14 Group of 2 - Select a project from the given list OR propose your own
Week 15 Final Project Submission + Presentations + Viva
Week 16 Revision Week + Final Examination

Final Project - List of Options: Students or Instructor to come up with more.

 RF Transmitter-Receiver / Walkie-Talkie  4-Way Street Lights  Electronic Dice
 Mini Self-Balancing Robot  Seven-Segment Display  WIreless Wire Loop Game