Units

---

Sample subject outline - Semester 2 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

The study of electromagnetic fields provides a foundation on which the electrical engineer develops a basic understanding of electrical/electronic devices and systems. This could include motors, transformers, semiconductors, electromagnetic compatibility, antennas, radio and microwave transmission and the concepts of capacitance, inductance and resistance in electric circuits. Electromagnetic theory is the fundamental basis for understanding transmission lines, electrical energy transmission and antennas. This unit will assist you to develop the rigorous analytical capabilities required to understand and solve practical problems encountered in electrical engineering.

Aims

The aim of the unit will assist you to develop a sound understanding of the basic concepts in electromagnetic fields and waves. The concepts are then extended to include wave transmission and propagation in guided and unguided media such as transmission lines and free-space.

Objectives

On completion of this unit you should be able to:

1. Formulate and solve problems pertaining to fields, waves and transmission lines.
2. Design an experiment and build a practical model which illustrates theoretical aspects of electromagnetics.
3. Retrieve, evaluate, present and use relevant information to illustrate and explain concepts in electromagnetic theory.

Content

The unit is divided into two distinct parts, viz. Fields and Transmission & Propagation.

Fields
1. Static electric fields: Basic vector algebra, Coulomb's law, Gauss's Law, electric potential, Ohm's Law, resistors and capacitors.
2. Static magnetic fields: Ampere's Circuital Law, Biot-Savart's Law, magnetic flux density, magnetic forces, magnetic torque, magnetic materials, inductance, magnetic energy, magnetic circuits.
3. Dynamic fields: Maxwell's equations, Faraday's Law, transformers, displacement current.


Transmission & Propagation
1. Plane wave propagation: Waves in lossless media, waves in lossy media, reflection of plane waves.
2. Transmission lines: Common types of transmission lines, transmission line characteristics, waves on transmission lines, transmission lines as circuit elements, Smith charts, impedance matching.
3. Antennas: Antenna fundamentals, basic types of antennas, antenna characteristics, Friss equation.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

Teaching Mode: 4 hours per week
Lectures: 3 hours per week + 1 hour revision
Tutorials: 1 hour per week

The delivery of this unit is through lectures, tutorials, project work and supplementary learning activities.

A diversity of teaching and learning approaches will be used to engage you. You will experience problem solving with progressive levels of practice, feedback and challenge and using real examples and applications. You will also be required to design a practical experiment to illustrate a concept in electromagnetic theory and explain its principles of operation in a formal way.

Assessment

Assessment includes a design project, problem solving tasks and an exam. Assessment for the project will be based on the working model and a showcase presentation of its principles of operation in week 11. The problem solving assessment will be conducted at regular intervals - weeks 3, 6, 9 and 12. The exam will assess knowledge and problem solving skills developed over the semester in lectures, tutorial problem solving and project activities.Formative feedback

You will receive formative feedback on your progress in this unit during tutorials and informal problem solving tasks in lectures.

Summative feedback

Assessment: Experiment
Mode of feedback: Written comments on achievement of assessment criteria; oral feedback during the presentation.

Assessment: Problem solving
Mode of feedback: Written feedback on achievement of assessment criteria.

Assessment: Exam
Mode of feedback: Final result.

Assessment name: Project (applied)
Description: Design Project
You will be required to build a working model which illustrates a practical application of Electrostatics, Magnetostatics or Faraday's Law. You will demonstrate your model and present the principle of operation using a poster, a short PowerPoint presentation or a video.
Relates to objectives: 2 and 3
Weight: 20%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Group
Due date: Week 10

Assessment name: Problem Solving Task
Description: You will be required to complete regular, short problem solving tasks at regular intervals during the semester. The best 3 of the 4 marks achieved during these assessment items will be counted.
Relates to objectives: 1 and 3
Weight: 20%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Group
Due date: End of semester

Assessment name: Examination (written)
Description: You will be assessed on the fundamental concepts of electromagnetic fields, transmission and propagation and your ability to formulate and solve problems.
Relates to objectives: 1 and 3
Weight: 60%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: End of semester

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

Text
Ulaby, F.T., Michelssen, E and Ravaioli, U, (2010), Fundamentals of Applied Electromagnetics, Pearson.

References
Wentworth, S. M., (2005), Fundamentals of Electromagnetics with Engineering Applications, Wiley
Hayt, W.H, and Buck, J.A., (2006), Engineering Electromagnetics, McGraw-Hill, 7th Edition.
Sadiku, M.N.O. (2001) Electromagnetics , Saunders College Publishing, 3rd Edition.
Cheng, D.K., (1993), Fundamentals of Engineering Electromagnetics, Addison Wesley.
Carter, R.G., (1992), Electromagnetism for Electronic Engineers, Chapman and Hall, 2nd Edition.
Kraus, J.D., (1992), Electromagnetics , McGraw-Hill, 4th Edition.
Ramo, S., Whinnery, J.R., and Van Duzer, T., (1994), Fields and Waves in Communication Electronics , Wiley, 3rd Edition.

Risk assessment statement

You will undertake lectures and tutorials in the traditional classrooms and lecture theatres. As such, there are no extraordinary workplace health and safety issues associated with these components of the unit.

You will have to do practical work for the experiment in the laboratory under the supervision of technical staff of the School. You will be advised of requirements of safe and responsible behaviour and will be required to wear appropriate protective clothing (e.g. closed shoes).

You will undergo a health and safety induction before being allowed access to laboratories.

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 28-May-2012