Year:11/12
Department:Engineering
Level:Part II (yr 2)
Learning Hours:150
Credit Points:15
Weight:0.5
Course Convenor:Dr GC Burt
Status:Live
Assessment Rules
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- 60% Exam
- 20% Practical
- 20% Test
Curriculum Design: Outline Syllabus
back to topThe first term considers electromagnetic processes in general whilst the second term focuses on RF engineering. Details are listed below.
Electromagnetic processes. Electrostatics: electric charge; electric field; electric flux density; electrostatic potential; inverse square law of force; dielectric polarisation and permittivity; capacitance; energy storage; parasitic capacitance and electric screening. Steady electric currents: current density; resistivity and conductivity; general form of Ohm’s law; power density and power dissipation in conductors; continuity equation; generalisations of Kirchhoff’s current and voltage laws. Magnetostatics: magnetic field; magnetic flux density; Biot-Savart law; magnetic circuit law; calculation of magnetic flux density; magnetic force on a current-carrying conductor; hard and soft ferromagnetic materials; permeability; hysteresis; permanent magnets; and simple magnetic circuits. Electromagnetic induction: Faraday’s law and Lenz’s law; self and mutual inductance; the simple transformer; parasitic inductance and earth loops; energy storage in magnetised iron; hysteresis loss; and eddy current loss. Maxwell’s Equations: displacement current.
RF Engineering. The decibel scale. Complex number review. AC circuit analysis. Complex representation of waves and transmission lines. RF transmission of data and basic RF receiver architecture. Matching networks, first order filters, oscillators and mixers. Characteristic impedance, reflection/standing wave ratios, Smith charts and scattering parameters. Applications to broadcasting and communication systems.
Curriculum Design: Pre-requisites/Co-requisites/Exclusions
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Part 1 Electronic Systems Engineering or equivalent.
Educational Aims: Subject Specific: Knowledge, Understanding and Skills
back to topTo provide a working knowledge of electromagnetism, including an understanding of the effect of metals, semiconductors and dielectrics. To provide insight into electronic transport in metal and semiconductor materials. To introduce the theory and design of RF circuits, with a focus on industrial examples such as microwave ovens, particle accelerators, communication systems and Radar.
Educational Aims: General: Knowledge, Understanding and Skills
back to topTo develop students’ ability to analyse engineering problems, create and design solutions to meet ‘real-world’ engineering needs, think and argue critically, and plan and organise their work.
Learning Outcomes: Subject Specific: Knowledge, Understanding and Skills
back to topOn successful completion of this module students will be able to...
- describe the concepts of potential, charge, field and capacitance;
- use Ampere, Faraday and Coulomb law;
- discuss the role of charge carriers and the electronic transport theory of metallic and semiconducting materials;
- discuss the differences between paramagnetic, diamagnetic and ferromagnetic materials;
- calculate the magnitude and direction of the electric field strength;
- discuss Gauss theorem and the relationship of electric flux to electric charge;
- describe the process of magnetisation of iron, hysteresis and eddy current loss;
- analyse induction and inductance;
- calculate the energy stored in a magnetic field;
- use the decibel scale;
- analyse AC lumped circuits and discuss LR, RC and LCR circuits;
- discuss the operation of oscillators;
- carry out noise calculations for RF systems;
- calculate component values and transmission line dimensions to match impedances;
- use a Smith Chart to analyse an RF circuit.
Learning Outcomes: General: Knowledge, Understanding and Skills
back to topOn successful completion of this module students will be able to...
- discuss the issues and usage of RF systems for broadcasting and communications;
- create and design solutions to meet ‘real-world’ engineering needs;
- develop effective arguments based on evidence;
- summarise findings and draw conclusions from laboratory work;
- follow guidelines associated with safety in a laboratory and industrial context;
- demonstrate an understanding of the discipline that can be built upon towards further career progression and potentially chartered or incorporated engineer status.
Assessment: Details of Assessment
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Assessment: Details of Assessment
Examination of concepts and ability to apply knowledge (60%)
Electromagnetics progress test (10%)
RF engineering progress test (10 %)
Electromagnetic (10%) and RF engineering (10%) laboratory work.
Curriculum Design: Select Bibliography
back to topR Schmidt, Electromagnetics Explained, Newnes, 2002.
IS Grant and WR Phillips, Electromagnetism, Wiley 1990.
CR Paul, Electromagnetism for Engineers, Wiley 2004.
R Ludwig and P Bretchko, RF Circuit Design, Prentice-Hall 2000.
Curriculum Design: Single, Combined or Consortial Schemes to which the Module Contributes
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Core module for the following Engineering undergraduate degree schemes:
BEng / MEng Electronic Systems Engineering.
BEng / MEng Nuclear Engineering.
BEng / MEng Computer Systems Engineering.
