The coexistence of analogue and digital electronic systems is the backbone of modern engineering systems such as Internet of Things, electric vehicles and drones, grid systems, communication networks and artificial intelligence systems. Analogue electronic circuits provide the bridge to the physical world to acquire real-world signals while digital electronic circuits process and store these signals efficiently.
This course provides the foundational knowledge in electrical and electronic engineering for the analysis and design of analogue and digital electronic circuits. This is done alongside the development of skills in using industry-standard simulation, prototyping (including printed circuit boards) and measurement tools for these tasks. The course provides the students with an understanding of basic electrical quantities, circuit elements and circuit analysis and design techniques. The concepts in this course are built upon in future engineering courses and are relevant to all engineering majors.
Specific course topics include:
- Introduction to Electronics: Fundamental electrical quantities (charge, current, voltage) and circuit elements (resistor, capacitor, inductor, voltage and current sources).
- Circuit Analysis Techniques: Kirchhoff's voltage and current laws, Mesh current and Node voltage analysis, Thevenin equivalent circuits, Maximum power transfer.
- First-order RC and RL Circuits with DC inputs: Time constant, Transient and steady state responses.
- Digital Electronics: Number systems, Boolean algebra, Logic gates, Combinational logic circuits, Karnaugh maps, Combinational logic circuit design.
- Introduction to Operational Amplifiers: Ideal op-amp, Basic Op-amp configurations, Summing point constraint. Basic amplifier circuits.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- Describe the basic circuit elements and calculate current, voltage and power for each element.
- Apply circuit analysis techniques to systematically solve electrical circuits.
- Analyse first-order switching circuits (RL and RC) and ideal op-amp amplifier circuits.
- Design combinational logic circuits using digital logic gates.
- Explain in simple terms the electrical properties and circuit behaviour of resistor, capacitor, inductor, digital logic gates and ideal op-amp.
- Implement, test, and debug electrical circuits using physical prototyping boards and validate laboratory measurements using analytical calculations and SPICE simulations.
- Collaborate for the purpose of taking measurements in a lab environment and lab report preparation.
Other Information
- This course follows the textbook very closely and makes use of the associated Mastering Engineering for Electric Circuits. While additional resources (including weekly problems, handouts and solved examples) will be provided during the semester to supplement the textbook, there is no substitute to reading the material from the textbook. Students can access the textbook for free using ANU library or from within Mastering.
- Using appropriate tools effectively is part of engineering, whether it is a calculator, a computer program, or AI tools. However, relying on AI tools in ways that replace critical thinking or foundational knowledge learning may negatively affect your learning and development as an engineer. In particular, circuit modelling and circuit theory is foundational domain knowledge that should be studied and mastered to build the critical thinking skills necessary for future learning. Relying on AI for solution of circuit analysis problems is discouraged.
- To pass this course, students need to attend and complete at least 5 out of the 7 Labs.
Indicative Assessment
- Mastering assignments (15) [LO 1,2,3,4,5]
- Laboratories (3 computer labs, 4 hardware labs) (25) [LO 1,2,3,4,5,6,7]
- Mid-sem test (20) [LO 1,2,5]
- Final Exam (40) [LO 2,3,4,5]
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
- Average student workload of 130 hours including: 2-5 hours of video lectures/week, 12 x 2 hour lectorials, 10 x 2 hour tutorials, 7 x 3 hour laboratories, 4 Mastering assignments (2-3 hours each).
- Weekly average contact hours: 7 hours (2 hour Lectorial, 2 hour tutorial and a 2 or 3 hour laboratory).
- Expected non-contact (self) study hours: 1-5 hours/week.
Inherent Requirements
The laboratories are in-person assessments.
Prescribed Texts
Nilsson and Riedel, Electric Circuits, (Global) edition
Preliminary Reading
- J. D. Irwin & R. M. Nelms, Basic Engineering Circuit Analysis
- R. C. Dorf and J. A. Svoboda, Introduction to Electric Circuits
- T. L. Floyd, Digital Fundamentals
Assumed Knowledge
- Students are assumed to have achieved a level of knowledge of mathematics comparable to at least ACT Mathematics Methods or NSW Mathematics or equivalent.
- Specifically, students need to be able to (i) solve systems of linear equations using Cramer's rule or calculator, (ii) apply integration and differentiation to exponential functions of time, and (iii) solve first order differential equations.
Areas of Interest
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Engineering
- Mechatronics
- Electronics
- Robotics
- Renewable Energy
- Artifical Intelligence
- Computer Engineering
Majors
Minors
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 2
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
Second Semester
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8743 | 26 Jul 2027 | 02 Aug 2027 | 31 Aug 2027 | 29 Oct 2027 | In Person | N/A |