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Ch1-9Test

• 10% of your grade
• If you have done all of the homework problems and lab assignments correctly and understand those concepts, then you should be prepared to do well on the test!
• You should review all of your homework problems. We've listed some relevant problems you should definitely review after some of the topics (blue = problem not assigend for HW, green = old HW problem).
• Based on our experience, it is very useful spend some time studying in small groups (but majority of time on your own)

What to bring - test will be in Kitson 301

• Calculator
• Pencil & willingness to write out all of your work if you want credit for your problems
• Crib Sheet
  • One 8.5" x 11" page
  • May include formulas, concepts, processes, and facts
  • May not include worked out problems
  • Must turn in with the test
  • Must be written in your own hand (but feel free to collaborate)

These key concepts relate to all problems:

• Ohm's Law
• Power
• Kirchoff's voltage law (KVL)
• Kirchoff's Current Law (KCL)
• Meaning of voltage, current, and resistance, determining any of those values, direction, proper notation
• Units!! (no units = no credit)
• SI prefixes (M, K, m, u, p etc.)

Know how to neatly draw and use circuit symbols, including those listed below.

You should know the types of components we have been using, the key specifications for the common devices (common power ratings, voltage rating, current rating, safety issues, different types we have and use in lab, which ones are "polarized").

• resistors
• various ways of depicting power supply and ground configurations & symbols
• polarized vs. non-polarized capacitors
• diodes & LEDs
  • Make sure you know how to calculate appropriate resistance for LEDs (what about 2 LEDs in series)?
• switches
• 555 timer
  • monostable configurations with associated driving circuitry and equations
  • astable configurations with associated driving circuitry and equations
    • Clarification of duty cycle (THIS WILL ABSOLUTELY BE ON THE TEST!) The 555 timer data sheet defines duty cycle, D, as the ratio of OFF time to the period, T (which is sum of the OFF + ON times). However, the common definition, which we use, is the the ratio of ON time to the period, T. You should use some algebra to correct the formula provided in the data sheet!
• Transistor (symbol only and what we use it for, not so much how to use)

Simple networks of resistors & Capacitors

• Calculating total resistance or capacitance when in simple series or in parallel configuration
• Resistors--voltage & current dividers
  • What remains constant when 2 or more resistors are in series (or parallel)
  • What changes when 2 or more resistors are in series (or parallel)
  • We used voltage dividers in several instances in Lab 2 & 4. Make sure you know how they work, relationship to KVL, using them to "step down" a voltage, bleed & load currents, etc. from Chapter 4-7

Circuit Analysis topics (Chapter 6)

• Calculating equivalent resistance (or capacitance) for a network (mixed series/parallel) of resistors (or capacitors), and using this info to calculate resulting voltages & currents (i.e., your first two quizzes, Ch6#34-39))
• Thevenin equivalent (Ch6#47, Ch9#43)
• Superposition principle (Ch6#27, Ch6#45)

RC Circuits (Ch9#40-45)

• Formulas and theory for charging/discharging, rough sketch of curves using your great knowledge of algebra!!!
• Know how to identify charging or discharging path (and its R & C components)
• Know how to pick out initial & final conditions for capacitor voltages
• Know how to calculate without making silly calculator errors! And without messing up SI prefixes (milli, micro, etc)!
• Know how many time constants must elapse to reach various voltage levels
• Know how to find R or C or T or V given the other values (know how to use logarithms!)