Course Description --
Electronics
Physics U-371/372,
Electronics for Scientists, Fall 2007
Don Heiman, Northeastern
University, 8/26/07
Also see Calendar and Syllabus.
Introduction
The goals of this course are to: (1) familiarize you with the basic electronics used in commercial electronic instruments; and (2) learn some of the underlying physics in electronic components. In the future, your research will probably involve sophisticated electronic instruments and it will be important to have some understanding of their principles and limitations. You may also encounter applications requiring you to design custom electronics.
The physics component of electronics is both interesting and useful. Semiconductor devices require quantum mechanics for a proper explanation of their behavior, but many things can be understood using some basic principles of electricity. We will concentrate on practical knowledge and applications of electronics, and also cover some of the microscopic theory where it is appropriate. The science of semiconductors and optical electronics has recently been added to the course.
The lab experiments are the most important component of the course. They provide you with experience in laboratory techniques: setting up equipment, taking data, analyzing data, and describing the results. The laboratory instructions will be less detailed as the course progresses, since you will become more confident in designing and carrying out the experiments. You will have access to the lab after class hours to finish work if needed. This course covers basic DC and AC circuit analysis, digital electronics, and analog applications, including op-amp amplifiers and optoelectronics.
The following topics will be covered:
Topics
Lab Notebook
A new bound notebook is required. Thin spiral bound or research notebooks are acceptable.
All raw data is to be recorded in the
notebook as it is taken. Set up tables with appropriate
columns. It is usually a good idea to
leave room for additional columns on the right
for analyzed data. You may find that after taking a few data points the
table is insufficient.
In that case, simply begin a new table with a
complete set of columns and insert the previous data -- never erase seemingly
unwanted data.
Plot appropriate data as it is taken.
These plots can be very crude -- you don't even need graph paper. This
allows you to see where
additional data points are needed and which data
points need to be retaken.
Lab Reports
Lab reports must be printed. Include diagrams of the apparatus, tables and appropriate plots. Each student is expected to write an independent lab report. Note that data may be shared, but independent analysis is required. The following format is required:
Title of Lab
Author, Course, Date
Abstract
- brief summary what was accomplished,
include final values with uncertainties (1 short paragraph) –
I.
Introduction (1 or more paragraphs)
· briefly
state the physics underlying the experiment (what is being tested)
II. Apparatus
· diagrams or sketches
of important apparatus (label items, e.g. Fig. 1, and describe in the text)
·
list equipment components (model numbers and brief
specifications)
III. Procedures, Results, and Conclusions
Because there are several parts of each lab experiment, it is often better to
discuss the procedures, results and conclusions of each part before going on to
the next part. For each part of the experiment include the following.
· briefly
describe the experimental procedures (in your own words)
· tables of relevant
data (raw and analyzed) should be put in an appendix
· plots
showing relevant results (label each figure, e.g. Fig. 3, with caption)
-- curve fit the data to theory whenever possible
-- include only one example of many repeated measurements unless noteworthy
-- put error bars on all data points, if there are 5 or more points use one
typical error bar
· in a Table,
report final values, uncertainties, and units
· discuss the
comparison of theory and experiment (are they within the uncertainties)