Physics 305: Electronics

Thushara Perera

Office: C007C in CNS
556-3888
email: tperera
Office Hrs: 11:00-12:00 on TWF and 3:00-4:00 on MW. But feel free to drop by at any time

Text: The Art of Electronics by Horowitz and Hill

Class times room: MWF 2-2:50 in E108
Lab time and room: T 1-3 in E009

Course Description

This course will introduce you to the fundamental ideas behind circuit analysis and circuit design. You will become familiar with various analog and digital circuit elements and how those elements come together in useful electronic devices. Surprisingly, many physicists claim that this course improved their physical intuition, especially on experimental aspects. It also promotes discipline in thinking quantitatively without using equations or numerical calculations.

Course organization and advice

- You will need one extra notebook (of any kind) for this class to serve as your lab notebook

- Homework will be assigned once a week and will be due every Monday

- Turn in all home work assignments on time (at the beginning of class on the due day). The late penalty is 20% per day.

- At the end of most Friday classes, we will have a 10-minute quiz based on the assigned reading. During the preceding 40 minutes, you can ask me questions about the reading

- There will be two in class midterms, two in-lab exams, and a comprehensive final

- You will also complete a final project chosen by you and approved by me

- Lab notebooks will be collected three times during the semester

- I expect you to adhere to the student honor code at all times, especially with take-home exams.

- Attempt to do home work assignments on your own. If you have difficulty, please come and see me

- Be prepared to answer questions and participate in class discussions and present your solutions to homework problems

Grade breakdown

- Homework: 15%
- Quizzes: 5%
- In-class midterm exams: 20%
- In-lab exams: 15%
- Lab Notebook: 15%
- Final project: 10%
- Final exam: 20%

Tentative Schedule