ECE-2020-001 Electric Circuits I Spring-2024

Class Time (001): Tues.-Thurs. 2:00pm – 3:15pm 111 Rhodes Annex Wait–15 min.

Instructor: Dr. William R. Harrell Office: 205 Riggs Hall 656-5918

[email protected]

Office Hours: Tuesday & Thursday 3:30pm – 5:00pm

Other times by appointment: Office or Online via Zoom
Procedures: I plan to hold regular office hours in person. However, when making
appointments outside of regular office hours, the mode could be in my office
in person or via Zoom. It will depend on the day, my schedule, and yours.
Just request a meeting via email.

TA: Rackley Wren [email protected]

Office Hours: By Appointment Only

Course Modality: Traditional / In-Person

Textbook: J. W. Nilsson, S. A. Riedel, Electric Circuits, 12th Edition (Required).

Additional lecture notes and videos are available on Canvas.

Technology: The student will need to have a laptop computer, internet connectivity
capable of transmitting and receiving video, a video camera, and a
microphone. This is needed for Zoom office hours and other meetings.

Prerequisites: MATH-1080 with a grade of C or better.

Preq or Concurrent: PHYS-2210, with a grade of C or better.

ECE–2110 (lab): Warning: If you drop ECE–2020, you must also drop ECE-2110, even
though these are separate classes.

Class e-mail: We will set up a class e-mail list which will be used often to communicate
with the class. You should check your e-mail daily, since we will send
out important information and reminders this way! Note that any messages
you send to the class list will go to every student in the class. You can also
easily contact us using the e-mail addresses listed above.

Attendance Policy: Attendance, in whatever mode is appropriate, is expected! You will be

responsible for all of the material covered in class, both from the notes and
the textbook; therefore, attendance is important! {If applicable, Online
students are expected to view the videos on schedule.}

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Course Description: Study of DC resistive circuits, Kirchhoff's Laws, Nodal and Mesh analysis,
sources, Thevenin's and Norton's theorems, RL, RC, RLC circuit solutions
with initial conditions using homogeneous or nonhomogeneous ordinary
differential equations having constant coefficients. Introduction to
Operational Amplifiers (Op-Amps).

Goals/Outcomes: The goals for this course are to provide the student with an understanding
of, and a proficiency in the analysis of, electrical circuits containing both
active and passive components under both steady state and dynamic (time
varying) conditions. These goals will be accomplished by pursuing the
following student learning outcomes of electrical circuit analysis,
understanding circuit operation, and problem solving:

* Active component models (sources), both independent and dependent.

* Passive component models: Resistors, Capacitors, Inductors, Switches.
* Power and Energy relationships.
* Network Laws: Ohm’s law, Kirchhoff’s voltage and current laws.
* Nodal and Mesh analysis techniques.
* Thevenin’s and Norton’s theorems. Superposition.
* Transient response of RL, RC, and RLC circuits.
* Introduction to Operational Amplifiers (Op-Amps).

ECE-2020 is a “core” (fundamental, essential) course for all electrical and

computer engineering majors. It is the first of two courses on basic
electrical circuit analysis, the second course being ECE–2620–Electric
Circuits II. These two courses are among the most fundamental and
important courses you will take in the ECE curriculum, in that many future
courses, both lecture and laboratory, build on this material. Mastering the
material will require study of the text and class notes, and diligent practice
of the homework problems. Anyone who has completed the prerequisites
for this class can excel in it. It’s primarily up to you!

Homework: Homework will be assigned and collected approximately weekly. Each

homework assignment must be scanned into a single PDF file and then
uploaded to Canvas by the mandated time and date (See
Modules/Homework Assignments/Homework Due Dates and Procedures,
on Canvas). Solutions to homework problems will be placed on Canvas.
Working the homework problems is essential to the learning of the material
in this course; in fact, most of your learning will come from doing the
homework. It is expected that your homework will represent your own
work, although working in groups is allowed, and even encouraged. Late
homework will not be accepted except under unusual circumstances!

Exams: There will be 5 closed book exams (lowest exam grade is dropped) and a
final exam. Exams will be multiple choice. Most questions will be circuit
analysis problems, including numerical as well as symbolic answers;
however, there may be a few conceptual questions as well on each exam.
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 The current plan is, we will provide you with OMR Answer Sheets for each
of the in-class exams. An example Answer Sheet is posted on Canvas.

Exam Attendance: If you cannot attend an exam for any reason, we should be notified ahead
of time if possible, otherwise at least on the day of the exam. Except under
very unusual circumstances, no makeup exam will be given without
appropriate notification and excuse. { Dropping the lowest exam grade
compensates for this. } If, for some reason, class is canceled on the day of
a scheduled exam, the exam will be held on the next scheduled day of class.

Calculators: You will need a scientific calculator for this class. In particular, it should
be capable of solving simultaneous equations and inverting matrices for
both real and complex numbers, and symbolic quantities. Calculators
such as the TI-89 or TI-Nspire, as well as some others, will meet this
requirement. Some problems, however, may not involve numbers. You
will need to know how to analyze circuits without calculators; i.e., using
algebraic methods. Storing of equations, or of any course material, in
calculators will be considered cheating if used on an exam or quiz! It is
your responsibility to learn how to use your calculator. However, there will
be some tutorials on calculator usage posted online.

Conduct: All students are expected to act in a professional manner and to pay attention
to the instructor during lectures. Behavior judged by the instructor to be
distracting, discourteous, or disruptive will not be tolerated. Prohibited
behavior includes, but is not limited to, excessive talking, sleeping, working
on homework, reading, and improper use of electronic devices (including
laptops, cell phones, and music players). Please do not start packing up
your things before the end of class; the instructor will let you know when
the class is dismissed. A student who fails to abide by these standards of
conduct will be removed from the course and/or assigned a final grade of F.

Academic Integrity: As members of the Clemson University community, we have inherited

Thomas Green Clemson's vision of this institution as a "high seminary of
learning." Fundamental to this vision is a mutual commitment to
truthfulness, honor, and responsibility, without which we cannot earn the
trust and respect of others. Furthermore, we recognize that academic
dishonesty detracts from the value of a Clemson degree. Therefore, we shall
not tolerate lying, cheating, or stealing in any form. All infractions of
academic dishonesty by undergraduates must be reported to Undergraduate
Studies for resolution through that office. In cases of plagiarism instructors
may use the Plagiarism Resolution Form. Plagiarism includes the
intentional or unintentional copying of language, structure, or ideas of
another and attributing the work to one’s own efforts. Graded works
generated by artificial intelligence or ghostwritten (either paid or free) are
expressly forbidden. See the Undergraduate Academic Integrity Policy
website for additional information and the current catalog for the policy.
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Accessibility: Clemson University values the diversity of our student body as a strength
and a critical component of our dynamic community. Students with
disabilities or temporary injuries/conditions may require accommodations
due to barriers in the structure of facilities, course design, technology used
for curricular purposes, or other campus resources. Students who
experience a barrier to full access to this class should let the instructor know
and are encouraged to request accommodations through SAS (Student
Accessibility Services) as soon as possible. To request accommodations
through SAS, please see this link:
https://www.clemson.edu/academics/studentaccess/register.html. You can
also reach out to SAS with questions by calling 864-656-6848, visiting SAS
at the ASC Suite 239, or stopping by the office as a drop-in appointment.

Students who have accommodations are strongly encouraged to request,

obtain, and send these to their instructors through their AIM portal as early
in the semester as possible so that accommodations can be made in a timely
manner. It is the student’s responsibility to follow this process each
semester.

Title IX Statement: Clemson University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all
persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex,
sexual orientation, gender, pregnancy, national origin, age, disability,
veteran’s status, genetic information or protected activity in employment,
educational programs and activities, admissions and financial aid. This
includes a prohibition against sexual harassment and sexual violence as
mandated by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. This Title IX
policy is located on the Access and Equity website. Ms. Alesia Smith is the
Clemson University Title IX Coordinator, and the Assistant Vice President
of Equity Compliance. Her office is located at 223 Brackett Hall, 864-656-
3181 and her email address is [email protected]. Remember, email is
not a fully secured method of communication and should not be used to
discuss Title IX issues.

Emergency Prep: Emergency procedures have been posted in all buildings and on all
elevators. Students should be reminded to review these procedures for their
own safety. All students and employees should be familiar with guidelines
from Clemson University Public Safety.

Clemson University is committed to providing a safe campus environment

for students, faculty, staff, and visitors. As members of the community, we
encourage you to take the following actions to be better prepared in case of
an emergency:

1. Familiarize yourself with all possible exits, safer locations, and other key
information on the emergency evacuation maps in this building, and those
that you visit regularly.
2. Make a plan for how you would Run, Hide, and Fight in case of an active
threat in this building, and those that you visit regularly. For example:

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  Run – what are all the possible exits in this building, and the routes to them?
 Hide – what are the potential hiding locations in this room and building that
are out of sight of doors and windows, how do you lock the door(s), how
would you barricade the door(s) and windows, where do you turn off the
lights?
 Fight – What tools are available in this room and building, should you have
to fight?
3. Ensure you are signed up for emergency alerts. Alerts are only sent when
there is a potential threat to safety, a major disruption to campus services,
and once-monthly tests.
4. Download the Rave Guardian app to your phone
(https://www.clemson.edu/cusafety/cupd/rave-guardian/)
5. Learn what you can do to prepare yourself for the hazards that affect our
locations (http://www.clemson.edu/cusafety/EmergencyManagement/)

Copyright: Materials in courses are copyrighted, including instructor’s materials. They

are intended for use only by students registered and enrolled in a particular
course and only for instructional activities associated with and for the
duration of the course. They may not be retained in another medium or
disseminated further. They are provided in compliance with the provisions
of the Teach Act. Students must seek permission from instructors to record
any class activity, including lectures, discussions, and presentations.
Students should refer to the Use of Copyrighted Materials and “Fair Use
Guidelines” policy on the Clemson University Website for additional
information.

Original works of authorship including but not limited to books, novels,

poetry, articles, works of art, photos, images, videos, movies, music,
architectural designs etc. are protected under copyright law. Unless
otherwise indicated all such materials are copyright protected. When
copyright protected materials or portions of such materials are made
available to you by an instructor, they are intended to be used for
educational purposes, for use only by students enrolled in a particular course
and only for instructional activities associated with the course. They should
not be retained in another medium or disseminated. Any further use of this
material may be in violation of federal copyright law.

ASC Support: This course has historically been supported by the Academic Success
Center tutoring program. The ASC tutors have completed and done well in
this course, and they understand the concepts well enough to help you work
through questions you have. The ASC tutoring program is certified by the
College Reading and Learning Association, which means that our tutors are
trained to share learning and study strategies during tutorial sessions. While
tutors will not complete/correct homework for you or help you on take-
home tests or quizzes, they will help you understand and reinforce concepts
that you are learning in your classes. For more information visit
https://www.clemson.edu/asc/courses/tutoring/index.html.
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Grading: Final grades will be determined by averaging the homework, exams, and
the final exam based on the scale below.

Homework 10%
5 Exams (drop lowest grade) 60% (15% each for four exams)
Final Exam 30%
-------------- -----------
Course Grade 100%

Grading Scale: 90 - 100 A

80 - 89 B
70 - 79 C
60 - 69 D
0 - 59 F

* We reserve the right to adjust the grading scale depending on overall

class performance, but only in your favor.

Note-1: The Canvas Grade Book is for your information and convenience. Official grades
are kept in my office/laptop, and these are the true grades. It is the student’s
responsibility to verify the accuracy of their Canvas grades.

Note-2: The instructor reserves the right to modify any aspect of this syllabus at any time
during the semester for any reason including, but not limited to, COVID-related
situations. The class will be notified of any modifications.

Version #1 Date: 1/9/2024

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ECE-2020-001 Electric Circuits I Spring-2024
TOPICAL OUTLINE and SCHEDULE

Day Date Text Coverage Material

Th 1/11 Chap. 1, pp. 2-19 Voltage, Current, Power, Energy

Tu 1/16 Chap. 2, pp. 26-38 Sources, Ohm’s Law, Circuit Models

Th 1/18 Chap. 2, pp. 39-44 Kirchhoff’s Laws

Tu 1/23 Chap. 2, pp. 45-50 Kirchhoff’s Laws, Dependent Sources

Th 1/25 Chap. 3, pp. 58-68 Series & Parallel Resistors, Dividers

Tu 1/30 Chap. 3, pp. 68-73 Dividers, Voltage & Current Meters

Th 2/1 Chap. 3, pp. 73-80 Wheatstone Bridge, ∆-Y Circuits

Tu 2/6 Chap. 4, pp. 92-100 Node-Voltage Analysis

Th 2/8 Exam #1 Chapters 1, 2, and 3

Tu 2/13 Chap. 4, pp. 100-104 Nodal Analysis and Supernodes

Th 2/15 Chap. 4, pp. 100-104 Nodal Analysis and Supernodes

Tu 2/20 Chap. 4, pp. 104-108 Mesh-Current Analysis

Th 2/22 Chap. 4, pp. 108-115 Mesh-Current Analysis, Comparison

Tu 2/27 Exam #2 Chapter 4-Nodal Analysis

Th 2/29 Chap. 4, pp. 115-123 Source Transformations,
Thevenin & Norton Equivalents

Tu 3/5 Chap. 4, pp. 123-135 Thevenin, Max Power, Superposition

Th 3/7 Chap. 6, pp. 182-193 Inductors, Capacitors

Tu 3/12 Exam #3 Chapter 4-Mesh, Thevenin, etc.

Th 3/14 Chap. 6, pp. 194-199 Series and Parallel L’s and C’s
pp. 211 Summary & Review

Tu 3/19 Spring Break - No Class

Th 3/21 Spring Break - No Class

Tu 3/26 Chap. 7, pp. 220-232 RL & RC Circuits, Natural Response

Th 3/28 Chap. 7, pp. 233-240 RL and RC Step Response

Tu 4/2 Chap. 7, pp. 241-250 General Solution, Sequential

pp. 255-256 Switching, Summary & Review
Th 4/4 Chap. 8, pp. 272-289 Parallel RLC Natural Response

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ECE-2020-001 Electric Circuits I Spring-2024
TOPICAL OUTLINE and SCHEDULE

Day Date Text Coverage Material

Tu 4/9 Exam #4 Chapters 6 and 7

Th 4/11 Chap. 8, pp. 289-296 Parallel RLC Step Response
pp. 296-303 Series RLC Natural & Step Response

Tu 4/16 Chap. 8 RLC Circuit Examples

pp. 308-310 Summary & Review
Th 4/18 Chap. 5, and Notes Intro to Operational Amplifiers

Tu 4/23 Exam #5 Chapter 8

Th 4/25 Chap. 5, and Notes Intro to Operational Amplifiers

Thursday 5/2 Final Exam 8:00am - 10:30am

Comprehensive: Including Op-Amps

Note-3: Actual schedule may vary slightly depending on class progress.

Note-4: This course plans to use software provided by Cadence Design Systems. You are
agreeing to utilize the Cadence software tools in accordance with our license
agreement . Cadence licenses can only be used for academic work and/or academic
research. No commercially funded use is permitted.

In this course specifically, we will require all students to register to use Cadence,
and have some assignments to gain familiarity with applications of the software.

Changes to Syllabus: The instructor reserves the right to modify any aspect of this syllabus and
schedule at any time during the semester for any reason including, but not limited to, COVID-
related situations. The class will be notified of any modifications.

Version #1 Date: 1/9/2024