KL3012 - Principles of Electricity

You will learn through a combination of lectures, laboratory workshops and directed and independent learning. You will gain knowledge of basic AC/DC/Digital circuit analysis at the lectures and will undertake problem solving and hands-on learning through well-designed laboratory exercises. The lectures will be delivered utilising an integrated approach to allow learning with maximum information dissemination. The content is primarily based upon a broad review of electrical and electronic principles. You will have several opportunities to practice the application of knowledge by using a problem-based learning approach. Lecture handouts will be distributed and/or uploaded to e-learning portal online at the beginning of the semester. Multimedia techniques such as videos and animations will also be used for student to grasp abstract concepts (such as sinusoidal signals). Formative feedback will also be provided with integrated quizzes and problems to solve. Laboratory workshops are in smaller groups and can provide a rich feedback framework based on problem based learning, where students can contextualize the theory in an appropriate practical lab session. This session also provides the appropriate learning tools and electrical hardware (such as breadboards, oscilloscopes, signal generators) for gaining hands-on experience.

You will be supported by the module team through scheduled lectures, seminars and workshop (laboratory) sessions. For effective learning in laboratory activities, it is important to question the results and link the work performed to the theoretical study in the module lectures. Appropriate use of the eLearning Portal (online platform) is made in the module where the module taught content is provided along with links to both the reading list support, tutorial questions and appropriate web sites showing the relation of the theory to the industrial context of the module. Additional support is provided in this module in the form of Individual contact -- students may visit the office of Lecturers/Lab tutors to ask questions related to the module outside the scheduled contact time. You will be encouraged to develop your curiosity by making direct contact with the module team through email or a blackboard discussion forum in which you can actively engage with the staff and student peers in a dynamic learning space enabling you to clarify and resolve issues of concern. You will also be regularly directed to supporting resources including relevant texts, student software downloads and relevant multimedia materials, accessible via eLP. References to these resources will be made available through the e-learning portal and in lectures and seminars.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.

You will be able to:

Knowledge & Understanding:
MLO1. Understand the concepts and principles of electricity, especially in regard to the basic DC, AC and digital electrical circuits and electrical safety.

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
MLO2. Gather, integrate and evaluate information from various sources including technical literature and laboratory workshops.

MLO3. Use mathematical approaches and apply electrical principles to analyse basic electrical circuits.

MLO4. Build and test basic electrical circuits and gain hand-on experiences of using practical lab equipment and solving practical problems in electricity.

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
MLO5. Willingly take on the professional and ethical responsibilities of physicists and mathematicians.

Summative Assessments

There will be two summative assessments aimed at assessing the students over their understanding of the electricity principles and of the laboratory practice:

CW – Labs report (50%) on the lab experiences in the first half of the semester, maximum 3000 words max (MLO 1, 2, 4, 5)

CW – Assignment (50%) on the theory and lab experiences in the second half of the module (MLO 1, 3, 4), 2000 words max

Formative Assessments

Verbal formative feedback will be provided on laboratory work, tutorials, class tests and examination. The formative feedback is designed to assist the students in advancing their knowledge and understanding of the subject matter.

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This module aims to provide a foundation in electrical principles, covering fundamental concepts of basic Direct Current (DC) circuits, Alternating Current (AC) circuits, digital logic circuits and their applications. Topics include terms and symbols, basic electrical and electronic components/devices, laws of DC/AC/digital circuits, measurement instruments and electrical safety. Experiences and skills of circuit analysis and problem-solving will also be gained through hands-on laboratory exercises. The fundamentals are introduced at the molecular level, developed through analytical techniques and applied as an introduction to devices and systems.