Introduction to Electrical Circuits and Lab

Course Description

EET1011C is an introductory course in electrical circuit theory with an integrated laboratory component, designed for students entering Electronic Engineering Technology programs at Florida colleges. The course provides an introduction to the basic concepts of electricity and magnetism, with emphasis placed on resistance, capacitance and inductance as basic circuit components. It covers direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC) circuit theory and computer simulation, including the fundamental laws of electrical and electronic circuits, schematic symbols, and the mathematics required for analysis.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Apply Ohm's Law, Kirchhoff's Voltage Law (KVL), and Kirchhoff's Current Law (KCL) to analyze DC circuits.
• Calculate voltage, current, resistance, and power in series, parallel, and series-parallel circuits.
• Use circuit analysis methods including Branch current, Loop current, and Node voltage methods to solve multi-source networks.
• Apply Thevenin's and Norton's theorems to simplify resistive networks.
• Analyze the behavior of capacitors and inductors in DC transient and AC steady-state circuits.
• Evaluate RC, RL, and RLC circuits, time constants, and resonance.
• Safely operate laboratory instruments such as the digital multimeter (DMM), oscilloscope, function generator, and DC power supply.
• Construct circuits on a breadboard from a schematic and verify performance through measurement.
• Use circuit simulation software (e.g., Multisim or LTspice) to predict and validate circuit behavior.
• Document laboratory procedures, data, and conclusions in formal lab reports.

Major Topics

• Electrical Safety and Lab Practices — proper handling of equipment, ESD awareness, and shop safety
• Fundamentals of Electricity — atomic structure, charge, voltage, current, and power
• Resistance and Ohm's Law — resistor color codes, conductors, and insulators
• Series and Parallel Circuits — voltage and current dividers, equivalent resistance
• Network Analysis — mesh, nodal, superposition, Thevenin, and Norton methods
• Magnetism and Electromagnetism — magnetic fields, flux, and electromagnetic induction
• Capacitance — capacitor types, charging/discharging, and RC time constants
• Inductance — inductors, transformers, and RL transients
• AC Fundamentals — sinusoidal waveforms, frequency, period, RMS values, and phasors
• Reactance, Impedance, and Resonance in RLC circuits
• Circuit Simulation — schematic capture and computer-based analysis

Resources & Tools

• Test Equipment: Digital multimeter, dual-trace oscilloscope, function generator, regulated DC power supply
• Components: Resistors, capacitors, inductors, breadboards, hookup wire, and switches
• Software: NI Multisim, LTspice, or equivalent SPICE-based circuit simulation
• Textbooks: Commonly used references include Floyd's Principles of Electric Circuits and Boylestad's Introductory Circuit Analysis
• Lab Manual: Hands-on experiments aligned to weekly lecture topics, with formal lab report submission

Career Pathways

EET1011C serves as a foundational course for students pursuing the Associate in Science (A.S.) in Electronic Engineering Technology and related certificate programs at Florida colleges. It prepares students for advanced coursework in analog electronics, digital systems, microcontrollers, and communications. Career roles supported by this foundation include:

• Electronics Technician
• Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technician
• Test and Measurement Technician
• Field Service Technician
• Manufacturing/Production Technician in aerospace, defense, telecommunications, and semiconductor industries

The course also articulates toward bachelor's degree pathways in Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technology at Florida state universities through the SCNS articulation system.