DORDT COLLEGE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
INTRODUCTION TO ENGINEERING ELECTRONICS--EGR 117
(Fall 2015)

PROBLEM SETS on ELECTRICAL TOPICS

(Last update: 12/04/2015 8:09 pm)
PS
#   		Assigned Due Returned Assignment
8

12/04 12/09

This
set
will
not
be
peer
graded
  		  Read the information at the following links:
  Basic Gates
  Derived Gates
  The XOR Function
  Binary Addition
 
  Do Problems 29, and 30.
 
  Optional Reading: "Using Design Hierarchy in
  Digital Logic to Illustrate the Scientific
  Method as a Human Invention." pages 1 – 8 in the
  September 2013 issue of Pro Rege
 
  Optional Reading: A Pulitzer prize-winning book,
  Tracy Kidder, The Soul of a New Machine
  Available at the John & Louise Hulst Library
  call number TK7885.4.K53 1990.
  Read an overview here.
  Read a review here and some quotes.
  Read page samples here (scroll down)
 
  Optional reading: "Polysilicon Link Fusing and
  Detection Circuit," Hewlett Packard journal,
  August 1983, page 23. download here
 
  This assignment will not be peer graded. It will be due
  for regular grading prior to the second test. It will
  be graded and returned to you at the start of the
  next semester.
7

12/02 12/04
12/09
  		  Topic: Mesh analysis
  Read: Section 16 (p 36 – 38)
  Do Problems 25, 26, 27, 28.
 
  This assignment will be due for regular grading prior
  to the second test on 12/09. It will be graded and
  returned to you at the start of the next semester.
 
  Optional: Video on mesh analysis (~20 min)
  The video link above combines the KVL equations and
  the substitution using Ohm's Law into one step.
  Otherwise it is the same technique presented in the
  reading assignment. The video's technique is a well-
  known shortcut that goes a bit beyond the material
  presented in the handout, and is truly optional.
  However 20 minutes spent watching the video might
  save 20 minutes on homework! The matrix inverse
  technique used in the video to solve simultaneous
  equations may be replaced with any of several other
  techniques, including Gaussian elimination or
  Cramer's rule. The technique used in the reading
  assignment is a version of Gaussian elimination which
  avoids using matrix notation entirely.
  Optional: Milestones in Electrical Engineering
  Optional:
  Sigsaly—The start of the digital Revolution
Lab
rprt
12/02 12/09
at
11:59 PM
  		  Write a lab report about your "Cylon eyes"
  project. Turn this report in electronically
 
  For details, see the course home page. Scroll down to
  the lab section. Look for the information about how to
  write the lab report. Upload one file for each team of
  students. BE SURE YOUR NAMES ARE INCLUDED IN THE
  FILE SO THAT WHEN PROF. DE BOER PRINTS YOUR FILE
  YOUR NAMES ARE ON THE FIRST PAGE OF THE PRINT-
  OUT. Your file must be in Microsoft Word doc or docx
  format.
 
  If you use Apple Computer's "Pages," see here
 
  If you use LibreOffice, see here.
6

11/20 12/02
12/04
  		  Topics: KCL and nodes, equivalent circuits,
              equivalent of series and parallel resistors
  Review: Section 14 (p 30 – 33)
  Read: Section 15 (p 33 – 35)
  Do Problems 21, 22, 23, 24.
 
  Optional: History of heart pacemakers
  Optional: Arc flash (video)
  Optional: More on Arc Flash at Wikipedia
  Optional: U of Tenn grid angle map
  U of Tenn Tornados disturb the grid
  Prof. Overbye: Genesis of the 2003 blackout
5

11/18 11/20
12/02
  		  Topics: Circuit Analysis, KVL and loops
  Read: Sections 13, 14 (p 28 – 33)
  Do: Problems 17, 18, 19, 20
 
  Optional: A short biography of Kirchhoff
 
  Optional: In lab we will learn how to solder
  and build an FM transmitter toy. You can view
  a video tutorial on soldering and read about
  caring for the soldering iron.
 
  Note: The due date for regular grading was originally
  erroneously given as 11/25 (during break). On Tu
  morning (11/24) it was corrected to 12/02 as now shown.
4

10/30 11/18
11/20
12/02 		  Topics: Power Systems & Signals, Professional
              Membership, "CQD"--pubic safety and
              engineering, Bandwidth, "1984"--hubris
              and motives to do engineering (p 22 – 27)
  Read: Sections 9, 10, 11, 12 (p 22 – 28)
  Do: Problems 12, 13, 14, 15, 16
 
  Optional: Nova Video, "Decoding Nazi Secrets"
        A quote from the show,
              ". . . brains over bullets."
        Available at The John & Louise Hulst Library
        Call no. D810.C88 D42 1999 (2 hrs, VHS)
        Companion web site at PBS
 
  Optional:
  1984 Apple Macintosh Commercial (You Tube)
  Wikipedia on the Apple Commercial
 
  Note: this set was originally scheduled to be due on
  11/11 and 11/18 but the 11/11 class was canceled.
  Thus the due dates were changed to those now shown.
3

10/28 10/30 11/18
12/02 		  Topics: Resistors, models and the passive sign
              convention
  Read: Sections 7 and 8 (p 18 – 22)
  Do: Problems 8, 9, 10, 11
 
  Optional:
  Video lecture: The Passive Sign Convention
  Video lecture: Passive Sign Convention Examples
  Note: The passive sign convention is easy once you
  clearly understand it. However, there are lots of bad
  descriptions of it floating around on the Internet.
  Stick with the IEE handout, the videos above, or ask in
  class rather than consulting the Internet on this matter.
  Although You-Tube will probably follow the video's
  linked here with more similarly titled videos, those
  videos are likely to be full of confusing statements.
  Please ignore the follow-on videos.
 
  Optional: The importance of understanding units
  Does $0.002 = 0.002 cents?
 
  Note 1: This problem set was originally erroneously said
  to be due on 11/04. That was corrected as shown.
  Note 2: This set was originally scheduled to be due on
  10/30 and 11/11 but the 11/11 class was canceled.
  Thus the due dates were changed to those now shown.
2

10/23 10/28
10/30
12/02 		  Topics: Electric Energy, "Free Niagara,"
              AC Circuits
  Read: Sections 4, 5 and 6 (p 6 – 18)
  Do: Problems 5, 6, 7
 
  Optional: The Grid. (13 min. video)
  Optional: read about arc flash and watch
  When good transformers go bad,
  480 volt 3-phase Arc Flash Demonstration
  An arc-flash incident in 2008
  Detail on the above--the arc-blast.
  The point is that safety matters. Electric
  circuits can deliver impressive amounts of
  destructive energy when failures happen.
1

10/21 10/231
10/282
10/303 		  Topics: Charge and Current, SI units, Voltage
  Read: IEE Sections 1, 2, 3
            (Read up to Section 4 on page 6.)
  Do: Problems 1, 2, 3, 4
  Optional: 14 minute video on fuel cell cars.

Note 1) Homework must be ready for peer grading and discussion at 9 or 10 AM (at the start of your class) on the first listed due date. Peer grading will offer 4 points per peer grading event.

Note 2) Homework must be turned in for a final grade at 8 or 9 AM (at the start of your class) on the second listed due date.

Note 3) Homework solutions are usually available one or two class periods after the due date. Click the "returned date" on this page to access the solutions. If the "Returned" date is not shown or is not a link (is black, not gold) then the solution is not yet posted. Check back later. If you click the link and get a login screen instead of the solutions, log in using your usual Canvas@Dordt username and password. Then, if necessary, use the back icon (or alt-left-arrow on the keyboard) twice to get back to the link on this page and click the link again. The link only works when you are logged in to Canvas@Dordt.

Note 4) Problems sets shown above with no "assigned" date are tentative. More problems might be added, expected due dates might change, but problems shown will eventually be assigned.

Note 5) If you are having difficulty reading the latest version of this page it may have to do with your browser's cached memory. Read this note on cached pages to solve the problem.