Test Information (ENGR-2300)
Formerly ENGR-4300

Quizzes are all closed book and closed notes.
Students are permitted to bring pencils, erasers and a
calculator.
No laptops, no phones or any other equipment or materials are
necessary or permitted.
Copies of the appropriate crib sheets (see below) will be
handed out with each of the quizzes.
Quiz 1 2018 Fall
solution
Quiz 1 2018 Spring
solution
Quiz 1 2017 Spring
Part B solution
Quiz 1 2016 Fall Part
A Quiz 1 2016
Fall Part B solution
Quiz 1 2016 Spring
solution
Quiz 1 2015 Fall solution
Quiz 1 2015 Spring
solution
Quiz 1 2014 Fall solution
Quiz 1 2014 Spring
solution
Quiz 1 2013 Fall solution
Quiz 1 2013 Spring
solution
Quiz 1 2012 Fall solution
Quiz 1 2012 Spring solution
Quiz 1 2011 Fall solution
Quiz 1 2011 Spring
solution
Quiz 1 2010 Fall solution
Quiz 1 2010 Spring
solution
Quiz 1 2009 Spring
solution
Quiz 1 2008 Fall
solution
Quiz 1 2008 Spring
solution
Quiz 1 2007 Fall
solution (In Question III, part 1), the first expression
for the transfer function is incorrect because the two terms
in the denominators should be added rather than multiplied.
The second expression is correct, so the person who did the
solution typed the denominator of the first expression wrong.)
You will have two hours
Five Questions each worth about 20 points
Question
1 -- Circuit Analysis
- Be able to handle combinations of
parallel and/or series resistors
- You may be asked to give resistance
expressions in equation form, rather than as a number.
- Be able to find voltages or currents
through any resistor
- Be able to find the total resistance
or current
- Know the voltage divider equation.
- Be able to find the voltage across a
resistor in a voltage divider configuration.
- The following file has past test
questions on this topic: CircuitAnalysis.pdf
Question
2 -- Filters
- Understand how capacitors behave at
very low and high frequencies.
- Understand how inductors behave at
very low and high frequencies.
- Be able to redraw a given RL, RC or
RLC circuit at low and/or high frequencies and identify low
pass, high pass, band pass and
band reject filters.
- Know how to find the resonant
frequency of RLC circuits. Remember w=2pf. [omega = 2(pi)f]
- Know how to find the corner
frequency of RC and RL circuits. Remember w=2pf. [omega = 2(pi)f]
- Be able to determine resonant
frequency (or w) and
corner frequency (or w)
given a semi-log plot of the input and output of a circuit.
- Be able to identify what will happen
to a signal of a certain frequency when it is applied to an
RC, RL, or RLC filter. Will the filter pass it, reject it, or
do something in between? What will the output voltage be
relative to the input voltage?
- Remember you can identify the value
of a voltage at a point using knowledge of connection to
ground, connection to source voltage, location of an open
circuit, location of a short, or the voltage divider rule.
- The following file has past test
questions on this topic: Filters.pdf
- The following file has more test
questions with relevance to filters: HighLow.pdf
Question
3 -- Transfer Functions
and Phasors
- Be able to apply the voltage divider
equation and parallel and series combination rules to find
transfer functions using complex impedance expressions. Also
be able to simplify these expressions.
- Be able to simplify the transfer
function to find a function which
governs behavior at low and high frequencies.
- Be able to find the magnitude and
phase of the simplified transfer function at low and high
frequencies.
- Be able to to
simplify the transfer function to find a function
which governs behavior at the corner or resonant
frequency.
- Be able to find an expression (or
value) for the magnitude and phase of the simplified transfer
function at the corner or resonant frequency.
- Be able to use the transfer function
to determine the output amplitude and output phase of a
circuit given the input amplitude, input phase, and frequency.
- Be able to identify low pass, high
pass, band pass and band reject filters given a plot of the
transfer function.
- Be able to sketch magnitude and
phase for low pass, high pass, band pass and band reject
filters using their behavior at low frequencies, high
frequencies and the resonant or corner frequency.
- Be able to determine resonant
frequency (or w) and
corner frequency (or w)
given a semi-log plot of the transfer function of a circuit.
- Don't forget the simple substitution
of short and open circuits for capacitors and inductors. It is
an easy way to double check transfer function behavior at low
and high frequencies.
- The following file has past test
questions on this topic: TransferFunctions.pdf
Question
4 -- Transformers and
Inductors
- Know the basic equations involving
transformers and how to apply them.
- Know the basic characteristics of
transformers.
- Be able to calculate an unknown
inductance given the capacitance or capacitance given the
inductance.
- Be able to calculate the resonant
frequency given inductance or capacitance...or visa versa.
- Be able to estimate the inductance
of a coil when given some dimensions for the unknown inductor
from the ideal formula.
- Know whether or not this ideal
formula will over estimate or under estimate the inductance of
the coil.
- The following file has past test
questions on this topic: Transformers.pdf
- The following file has past test
questions on a combination of related topics: Inductance.pdf
Question
5 -- PSpice, Instrumentation and
Components
- Be able to identify which trace on a
plot corresponds to which voltage point of a simple circuit.
- Given a PSpice
plot with time-varying signals on it, show that the signals
satisfy the appropriate voltage and current relationships.
- Given that you wish to obtain a
particular AC Sweep, DC Sweep, or Transient analysis with PSpice, describe the specific steps
you would follow. You will be given blank windows and asked
which ones you will use and what numbers you will input.
- Given an image of one of the
instruments we have used in this class (function generator,
digital multimeter, scope, dc
supply), identify the buttons you would push for some
specified purpose. Only the most basic functions will be
considered.
- Understand how to set frequency,
amplitude, dc offset, and duty cycle on function generator.
- Describe how to use the multimeter to measure voltage and
resistance.
- Describe how to set the correct
voltage with the DC supply.
- Understand how to set time and
voltage scales on the 'scope.
- Understand how to determine voltage
values or time values using Voltage/Time buttons and/or scale
factors on the 'scope.
- Understand how to subtract two
signals or set up a simple Lissajous
figure on the 'scope.
- Be able to explain the discrepancy
between reading on the 'scope (or the DMM) and the function
generator and why it happens.
- Be able to read resistors and
capacitors and find tolerances.
- Know when equipment impedances and
resistance of wires can and cannot be ignored.
- The following file has past test
questions on these topics: General.pdf
Additional Topics
The
following additional topics
may also be covered as parts of the above five questions.
Sine Waves
- Given an exact image produced on the
oscilloscope, determine the mathematical representation of the
signal displayed.
- Be able to find peak-to-peak
amplitude, RMS amplitude, amplitude phase, frequency, angular
frequency, period, and dc offset
- Know all units for the above.
- Be able to sketch a sine wave from
the mathematical equation
Homework and
Experiments
- Any question included in a Report
and Conclusions section of experiments 1-3 is fair game.
- Any question similar to those on homeworks 1-3 is fair game.
Other
Skills
- Be able to read semi-log plots.
- Be able to substitute in numerical
values for R, L, C and w=2pf
as needed to find numerical answers.
Quiz
1 Samples
Review Sessions
Quiz reviews are available online (YouTube
& LMS) with easiest access through the Lecture page.
Crib Sheet
The following crib sheet
will be provided.
Quiz 2 2018 Fall
solution
Quiz 2 2018 Spring
solution
Quiz 2 2017 Fall
solution
Quiz 2 2017 Spring
solution
Quiz 2 2016 Fall solution
Quiz 2 2016 Spring
solution
Quiz 2 2015 Fall solution
Quiz 2 2015 Spring
solution
Quiz 2 2014 Fall solution
Quiz 2 2014 Spring
solution
Quiz 2 2013 Fall solution
Quiz 2 2013 Spring
solution
Quiz 2 2012 Fall
solution
Quiz 2 2012 Spring
solution
Quiz 2 2011 Fall solution (The answer to problem IV,
part 5 is wrong because the value for C1 was plugged into the
expression instead of the value for C2. Thus the frequency
should be closer to 10kHz)
Quiz 2 2011 Spring
solution
Quiz 2 2010 Fall solution
Quiz 2 Spring 2010 solution (Plots f and g are labeled
backwards at the bottom of page 2, but Adobe will not regenerate
the pdf for this file, so a corrected version cannot be posted)
Quiz 2 Spring 2009
solution
Quiz 2 Fall 2008
solution
Quiz 2 Spring 2008
solution
Quiz 2 Fall 2007
solution
You will have two hours
Five Questions each worth about 20 points
Question
1 -- Damped Sinusoids
and the Strain Gauge Bridge
- Know the equation for a damped
sinusoid.
- Be able to determine the damping
constant of a damped sinusoid given a plot.
- Be able to find other properties of
a damped sinusoid: initial amplitude, frequency, period,
angular frequency, and DC offset.
- Be able to identify passive
circuits (no input voltage source) that produce sinusoids (LC)
and damped sinusoids (RLC). Be able to relate the component
values of these circuits to the properties of the sinusoid.
The resonant frequency (in Hertz) is given by f=1/[2psqrt(LC)] and the damping
constant (in 1/sec) is given by a=R/[2L].
- Know what a bridge circuit is and
how it is used in the experiments.
- Know what a balanced bridge is and
how to recognize a circuit that is balanced.
- Know how to apply the equation that
relates the frequency of a loaded beam to the mass at the end
of the beam.
- The following file has past test
questions related to damped sinusoids: DecaySine.pdf
Question
2 -- Thevenin Equivalent Sources
- Be able to apply Thevenin equivalent method to a
voltage divider, a Wheatstone Bridge or other simple
configuration.
- Be able to find the Thevenin resistance
- Be able to find Thevenin voltage
- Be able to draw the Thevenin circuit with or without a
load
- Be able to use a voltage divider to
determine voltage across a load placed on the Thevenin equivalent circuit.
- The following file has past test
questions on finding Thevenin
Circuits: Thevenin.pdf
Question
3 -- Op Amp
Applications
- Know how to recognize the amplifier
configurations we have already seen: inverting, non-inverting,
buffer, differentiator (real and ideal), integrator (real and
ideal), differential, and (weighted) adder.
- Know the characteristic equation
(in the time domain) that governs each circuit above.
- Know the transfer function (in
terms of j and w)
that governs each circuit above.
- Know the characteristics and
limitations of op-amps.
- Know what a voltage follower
(buffer) is and why you would want to use it in a circuit.
- Know how to apply the
characteristic equation of an op amp to find the gain, input
voltage, output voltage or resistances given the other values.
- Understand how to find an equation
for the behavior of a circuit involving more than one op-amp
circuit in series: Htotal
= H1 * H2.
- Understand how to apply the
equation for the combined behavior of an op-amp circuit to
digital-to-analog conversion or other task.
- The following file has past test
questions on digital to analog conversion: DigitalAnalog.pdf
(No longer part of Quiz 2 - May be in
Quiz 3)
- The following file has past test
questions with relevance to op-amp applications: OpAmp-Applications.pdf
Question
4 -- Op Amp Analysis
- Know how to use the op amp
equations to derive the transfer function for all of the
amplifier circuits studied: inverting, non-inverting, buffer,
differentiator, integrator, differential, and (weighted)
adder.
- Know how to use the op amp
equations to derive the transfer function for a simple circuit
similar to the above.
- The following file has test
questions with relevance to op amp analysis: OpAmp-Analysis.pdf
Question
5 --
Integrators/Differentiators
- Be able to sketch or recognize the
output of a simple op-amp circuit given the input. Note that
we are especially interested in the amplitude and phase
effects of integrators and differentiators.
- Know the basic mathematical
concepts behind differentiation (slope of curve) and
integration (area under curve).
- Know that real integrators and real
differentiators only work well at certain frequencies.
- Be able to recognize the
characteristic curve (sweep of magnitude and/or phase) of both
integrators and differentiators.
- Be able to identify frequencies at
which integrators and differentiators are working more-or-less
correctly given an AC sweep of the transfer function magnitude
or phase.
- Know how to apply the equation for
the corner frequency of an integrator or a differentiator to
determine an estimate of when these circuits will be acting
ideally and when they will be acting like an inverting
amplifier.
- The following file has test
questions with relevance to op amp analysis: OpAmp-DiffInt.pdf
Homeworks and
Experiments
- Any question included in a Results
and Discussion section of experiments 4-5 are fair game.
- Any question similar to those on homeworks 4-5 is fair game.
Basic
Skills
- Basic skills related to PSpice, Equipment, and Sine Waves may
appear on this, or any other, exam.
- See the list for quiz 1 for
details.
- The following file has past test
questions on these topics: General.pdf
Other
Skills
- Know the voltage divider equation.
- Be able to find the voltage across
a resistor in a voltage divider configuration.
- Be able to apply the voltage
divider equation to transfer functions with complex impedance
expressions.
- Be able to identify the value of a
voltage at a point using knowledge of connection to ground,
connection to source voltage, open circuit, short, or voltage
divider rule.
- Be able to read semi-log plots.
- Be able to substitute in numerical
values for R, L, C and w=2pf
as needed to find numerical answers.
Quiz
2 Samples
Review Sessions
Quiz reviews are available online (YouTube
& LMS) with easiest access through the Lecture
page.
Crib Sheet
The
following crib sheet will be provided.
We will also give you the crib sheet from the first quiz.
QUIZ 3
(Combined with Quiz 4 as of Fall 2014)
Quiz 3 Fall 2018
solution
Quiz 3 Spring 2018
solution
Quiz 3 Fall 2017
solution
Quiz 3 Spring 2017
solution
Quiz 3 Fall 2016 solution
Quiz 3 Spring 2016
solution
Quiz 3 Fall 2015 solution
Quiz 3 Spring 2015
solution
Quiz 3 Fall 2014 solution
Quiz 3 Spring 2014 solution
Quiz 3 Fall 2013 solution
Quiz 3 Spring 2013
solution
Quiz 3 Fall 2012 solution
Quiz 3 Spring 2012
solution
Quiz 3 Fall 2011 solution
(The wrong answer is circled in III-2; the gate is a NOR)
Quiz 3 Spring 2011
solution (The answer to IV-c
is correct but the column labels are backwards. They should be
in the order QD, QC, QB, QA, not alphabetical.)
Quiz 3 Fall 2010
solution
Quiz 3 Spring 2010
solution
Quiz 3 Spring 2009
solution
Quiz 3 Fall 2008
solution
Quiz 3 Spring 2008
solution
Quiz 3 Fall 2007
solution
Five Questions each worth about 20 points
Question 1 -- Astable Multivibrators
(555-Timers)
- Be able to apply the equations for
T1, T2 and frequency given R1, R2 and C.
- Be able to find values of R1, R2 or
C given T1, T2 or frequency.
- Given a plot of the output of an astable multivibrator
circuit, be able to determine T1, T2, T and frequency. Also be
able to use these to find values for R1, R2 and/or C.
- Be able to find the equation for
duty cycle and understand how it is related to the resistor
values.
- Be able to recognize the output
plots for pins 3(output), 2(trigger), 6(threshold) and
7(discharge). Also know the pin names.
- Be able to sketch the output (3),
the capacitor voltage (2,6), and the discharge (pin 7) of a
555-timer circuit in astable mode
vs. time. If you are given values for R1, R2, C and the source
voltage, you should know the voltage range of the signals at
pin (2,6) and 3. You also be able to estimate the signal at
pin 7.
- Be able to find the decay constant
for the charge and discharge cycles of the capacitor in the astable miode
circuit.
- Understand how the pulses from an astable multivibrator
circuit can be used to do pulse width modulation.
Question
2 -- Combinational
Logic Circuits
- Be able to identify the following
logic gates: AND, OR, NAND, NOR, XOR (EOR), XNOR, NOT.
- Know the truth tables for the
following logic gates with up to four inputs: AND, OR, NAND,
NOR, XOR (EOR), XNOR, NOT.
- Be able to draw a truth table or
timing diagram for a digital circuit.
- Be able to recognize or sketch the
output timing diagram of a digital
circuit.
- Know the PSpice
conventions for naming the input and output pins of logic
gates.
- Be able to use Boolean algebra to
describe the overall or relative function of a digital
circuit.
- Be able to simplify simple Boolean
algebra expressions.
- Be able to name a NAND gate or
other circuit as equivalent to one of the logic gates above.
Question
3 -- Sequential Logic
Circuits
- Be able to identify or sketch the
output of a counter or a J-K flip-flop.
- Be able to draw a truth table for a
J-K flip-flop.
- Understand how a flip-flop can be
used as a memory device.
- Understand how many bits each
counter has, what behavior each bit exhibits, and how to
string counters together to count higher.
- Know what the function of the clock
is in the flip flop and counter.
- Understand the effect of clock
pulse timing can have on flip-flop outcome.
- Understand the function of the
clear signal to counters and flip-flops.
- Know what a race condition is and
how to prevent one.
- Understand how to string flip-flops
together to make a counter.
- Be able to recognize or sketch the
output timing diagram of a
sequential logic circuit given the clock signal.
- Understand what a clock is and what
it looks like in PSpice.
Question
4 -- Schmitt Triggers
and Comparators
- Understand the difference in
function between a comparator and a Schmitt trigger in the
presence of noise.
- Be able to sketch the output from a
comparator and Schmitt trigger from a given input.
- Be able to identify the point at
which a Schmitt trigger will switch when voltage is increasing
and decreasing.
- Be able to define hysteresis.
- Understand the relationship between
hysteresis and when a Schmitt trigger switches.
- Understand the model of a Schmitt
trigger explained in class and in your book. Be able to find
the switching thresholds and hysteresis of a circuit using
this model.
- Be able to determine hysteresis of
a Schmitt trigger from a plot of Vin vs. Vout
and/or Vout vs. time.
- Understand what saturation of an
op-amp is and how it relates to the function of comparators
and Schmitt triggers.
- Be able to recognize, identify, and
sketch traces from comparators and Schmitt triggers.
- Be able to calculate voltages at
different points in a switching circuit with comparators and
Schmitt triggers.
Question
5 -- Switching Circuits
- Know how to model a transistor as a
switch.
- Know how to draw the "diode" model
of a transistor.
- Be able to define and identify the
base, emitter and collector of a transistor.
- Be able to recognize, identify, and
sketch traces from a simple circuit involving transistors,
comparators, Schmitt triggers and/or relays.
- Be able to redraw a simple circuit
using the switch or diode model of a transistor.
- Be able to redraw and analyze a
circuit when a relay is in either position.
- Be able to calculate voltages at
different points in a simple switching circuit.
- Be able to identify a combinational
logic gate given a simple transistor model.
Digital
skills
- Know which voltage levels
correspond to ON and OFF in Digital Electronics.
- Review the binary numbering system.
- Be able to convert between decimal
and binary and back.
Quiz
3 Sample Questions
Quiz
3 Samples
Review Sessions
Quiz reviews are available online (YouTube
& LMS) with easiest access through the Lecture
page.
Crib Sheet
The following crib sheet
will be provided.
You will also receive a copy of the crib sheets for quizzes 1
and 2.
QUIZ 4
(Now Combined with Quiz 3)
Quiz 4 Spring 2014
solution
Quiz 4 Fall 2013 solution
Quiz 4 Spring 2013
solution
Quiz 4 Fall 2012 solution
Quiz 4 Spring 2012
solution (There is a small typo in the answer to problem
1, part 4. The expression 0.1/0.04 should be 0.01/0.04. The
answer is correct.)
Quiz 4 Fall 2011 solution
Quiz 4 Spring 2011
solution
Quiz 4 Fall 2010 solution
Quiz 4 Spring 2010
solution
Quiz 4 Spring 2009
solution
Quiz 4 Fall 2008
solution
Quiz 4 Spring 2008
solution
Quiz 4 Fall 2007
solution
Five Questions each worth about 20 points
Questions 1 and 2 -- Diodes: Rectifier Circuits and Limiter
Circuits
- Understand the i-v characteristic
curve for diodes (and Zener
diodes). Know the terminology and characteristics.
- Be able to recognize full-wave
rectifiers, half-wave rectifiers, smoothing circuits,
regulators and limiters (clippers) from their circuits or
characteristic plots.
- Understand the effect that the
threshold voltage of the diode(s) has on output of the above
circuits.
- Understand how the output of the
above circuits would look for signals with input voltages of
different amplitudes.
- Be able to sketch a plot of the
output voltage vs. the input voltage for the above circuits.
Question
3 -- Zener Diodes
- Understand the effect Zener diodes have in a limiter or
voltage regulator.
- Know how to interpret output plots
for inputs of different voltage levels in circuits involving Zener diodes.
- Be able to determine output voltage
levels for different input voltages in a Zener
diode circuit.
- Understand the i-v characteristic
curve for and Zener diodes. Know
the terminology and characteristics.
- Be able to approximately reproduce
or identify the plots Zener diode
voltage regulation. Note that both DC sweep and transient
analysis were asked for.
Question
4 -- LEDs and Phototransistor
Circuits
- Understand the proper configuration
of LEDs in circuits and how they
operate.
- Understand the proper configuration
of phototransistors in circuits and their operation.
- Be able to calculate voltages and
currents in circuits containing these devices.
Question
5 -- Circuit
Functionality: Signal Modulation and Filtering
- Be able to identify blocks in a
circuit.
- Circuit blocks you have seen
- Basic Circuits (voltage
dividers, components in series and in parallel, resistance
bridges)
- Filters (low pass, high pass,
band pass, band reject)
- Transformers
- Op-Amp Amplifiers (inverting,
non-inverting, adder, differential)
- Voltage followers (also called
buffers)
- Op-Amp integrators and
differentiators
- 555-Timer (astable,
monostable, modulator)
- Logic gates (AND, NAND, OR, NOR,
XOR, XNOR. NOT) sequential logic (counters and flip
flops)
- Comparators and Schmitt triggers
- Transistors
- Diodes (half wave rectifier,
full wave rectifier, limiter, regulation)
- Zener
diodes (limiter, voltage regulation)
- Voltage sources (DC, AC, square
waves, triangular waves)
- Miscellaneous (dc-blocking
capacitors, by-pass capacitors, speakers)
- Be able to identify blocks identify
or infer the output of a circuit block given the input.
- Be able to determine the behavior
of a circuit block. (ie. This
block is an inverting amplifier. The feedback resistor is 20k.
The input resistor is 1K. It will invert the input and
multiply it by a factor of 20.)
- Be able to infer how a circuit
block will behave at certain frequencies. (i.e. I know the
corner frequency of this low pass filter is fc=1/(2pRC). If I substitute in
the component values I get fc =
5K Hz. If the input frequency is 20K hertz, the filter should
block the input entirely and the output should be zero. If the
input frequency is 1K Hz, the filter should allow the input to
pass and the output will be equal to the input.)
Quiz
4 Sample Questions
Quiz
4 Samples
Review Sessions
Quiz reviews are available online (YouTube
& LMS) with easiest access through the Lecture
page.
Crib Sheet
The following crib sheet
will be provided.
You will also receive a copy of the crib sheets for quizzes
1-3.