"Diodes & Rectifiers Course"
is Essential Electronics Course for all Engineering Students!
Kick start your Electronics Engineering abilities and develop essential skills for solving non-linear electrical engineering circuits!
Start with learning direct and inverse polarization of diodes and necessary conditions for them to conduct electrical current. Understand the different types of diodes with their specific roles and application practices. Expand your knowledge into rectifiers that are used in every mobile phone and laptop adapter as power and battery charging device.
Diodes & Rectifiers course provides you with the most important study material and resources. The objective is to prepare every future engineer with essential and fundamentals understanding of critical diode concepts. The course demonstrates the process of thinking in order to calculate currents and voltages in non-linear electronic circuits. In addition, the detailed solutions for number of problems and quizzes with diodes are revealed in easy-to-digest step-by-step manner in video format.
The course is concluded with practical considerations of application of diodes in various circuits through virtual-lab approach. Actual diode circuits are simulated with all the necessary instruments measuring quantities of interest. Students solidify their theoretical knowledge by observing and analyzing circuit dynamics in lab experiments and simulations.
The delivery of the course material has been meticulously designed with young engineering students in mind. All the material is recorded as High Definition videos that are broken down in smaller easy-to-follow units. All the videos are captioned for better understanding or even following the course material with no sound. Resources in PDF format are provided for each lesson, problem or practice.
Course Facts
| Course Title: | Diodes & Rectifiers Course |
| Course Subtitle: | Essential Electronics Course for all Engineering Students! |
| Published: | April 2021 (expected) |
| Author: | Sasha Jakovljevic |
| Instructor: | Sasha Jakovljevic |
| Rating: | n/a |
Electricity Fundamentals Review Section
1. Electrical Quantities (13:33)
Embark on your Diodes & Rectifiers learning adventure by reviewing the most important electrical quantities first. In this video lesson, we review four electrical quantities that you absolutely need to understand in order to successfully follow the remainder of this course. Those are:
- Electrical Current
- Electrical Voltage
- Electric Power and
- Electric Energy
We cover electric current first and we answer the following questions:
- What is electrical current and how do we define electric current?
- What particle is responsible for electric current?
- What is electric charge, how do we designate it and what unit do we use for electric charge?
- Which particles are “charged” and what is the sign of their charge?
- Does any charge that moves really make an electric current? Which particles are “free” to move?
- What types of materials are there and do they all conduct electricity?
- Which materials are particularly suitable for electronics?
- How do we achieve directed movement of charge in conductors?
- How do we indicate direction of electric current?
- What is “reference” direction and how does it relate to actual flow of current?
- How do we designate quantities that are constant in time vs those that change in time?
- What formula connects electric charge and electric current?
- How do we calculate electric current if flow of charge changes in time?
- What is the unit of electric current and how do we designate electric current in electrical circuits?
- Why do we “dope” semi-conductors with impurities?
- What are the most frequently used materials in electronics?
Next, we cover electric voltage as the second key electrical quantity. We answer:
- What is electrical voltage and what is its definition?
- What is the difference between electric “potential” and electric “voltage”?
- Why do we always need to have two points when we talk about electric voltage?
- What is the purpose of “ground” with respect to electric voltage and what is electric potential of ground?
- What does it mean: points are connected together?
- What language do we use to express electric voltage of an element?
- How do we designate electric voltage as a quantity and on electrical schematics?
- What is reference polarity or assumed polarity versus actual polarity of a voltage?
- What is the unit for electric voltage?
- Which law is used to relate voltage and current of an element?
- What is electrical resistance, how do we designate it and what unit do we use for the resistance?
- When is voltage positive and when does it have negative value?
- Do we have the same rules for positive vs negative value of a current that flows through an element?
- Are actual directions and/or polarities really important?
Next quantity we analyze is electric power and we consider the following aspects of it:
- How do we call electric power that changes in time?
- How do we calculate electric power and what quantities do we use in formula for electric power?
- What is the expression for power in Direct Current (DC) circuits?
- What letter is used for power in DC circuits and what is the unit of electric power?
- What are the alternative ways of calculating electric power in resistive electrical circuits?
- What is the alternative way of defining electric power with respect to electric energy?
The last quantity we cover is electric energy. We answer the following:
- How do we obtain electric energy for an element if we know how its power changes in time?
- What is the simplified way of calculating energy in DC circuits?
- What unit do we use for electric energy and why do we use “different” unit than what we use in physics?
- How do we convert energy units expressed with different time bases?
- What prefix is most frequently used in expressing electric energy of an element?
2. Laws of Electricity (12:00)
Fundamental laws of electricity are used throughout the course to solve circuits with diodes as well as to understand operation of rectifier devices. In this video lesson, we review three most important laws of electrical circuits. Those are:
- Kirchhoff’s Current Law or KCL
- Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law or KVL and
- Ohm’s Law
While reviewing Kirchhoff’s Current Law (KCL), we answer the following questions:
- What is the definition of Kirchhoff’s Current Law?
- What is electrical node and why is it important for proper understanding of KCL?
- What are the boundaries of electrical nodes and their relationship to electric currents?
- How do we determine the direction of element currents with respect to electric node?
- What are the three ways we can write KCL equations and which way is the easiest one to understand?
- What does it mean to express currents “algebraically” and why do we want to do it?
- Why do we change the sign of a current and what implication does it have on KCL equations?
Next we cover Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law (KVL) and the following questions are addressed:
- How do we define Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law?
- What is the loop in an electrical circuit and how does it relate to KVL?
- How do we sum up voltages around the loop and why do we express them algebraically?
- What are the 5 critical steps in writing KVL equations?
- How do we remember the process of writing KVL equations so we always get the correct signs?
- What is the best way to designate voltage polarities of loop elements?
- What does it mean to “move around the loop” and what choices do we have?
- What is the rule for proper voltage sign writing?
- What happens with wires and how do we account for conductors in KVL equations?
Finally we have Ohm’s Law and here we answer:
- What relationship exists between voltage and current related to a linear circuit element?
- How does Ohm’s Law look like in a graphical representation?
- Why do we need to be very careful what voltage polarity and what direction of a current we have?
- What does it mean “matching” voltage and current for an element?
- How do we resolve Ohm’s Law equation if current and voltage do not match?
- What other formulas we can use that also represent Ohm’s Law?
We conclude with the final reminder about the language we use with respect to expressing voltages and currents of resistors. We need to be able to write electrical law equations correctly and consistently use proper signs so we avoid ending up with inaccurate results.
3. Divider Rules (Principles) (8:16)
We have two divider rules or principles that we use quite often in Electrical Engineering. We also use them throughout the Diodes & Rectifiers course to calculate various voltages and currents, so we need to review these principles as well. The two rules are:
- Voltage Divider Rule
- Current Divider Rule
In this video lesson, we cover the Voltage Divider Principle first. We answer:
- Why do we use divider principles and how do they save us calculation effort and time?
- When can we apply voltage divider rule and what type of electrical circuits can they help us with?
- What are the main assumptions about the circuit we want to solve using voltage divider rule?
- Which electrical quantity can we avoid calculating when we apply voltage divider rule?
- What is the relationship between individual element voltages and the total voltage of a power supply?
- How do the voltage divider formulas look like and how do we make sure we get all the terms correct?
- What do we need to pay special attention to and how do we achieve proper indices matched?
We also cover Current Divider Principle in this video lesson and we provide the answers to:
- How is current divider similar to voltage divider and how do they differ?
- When do we apply current divider rule and what type of electrical circuits do they help us with?
- When are the voltages known as opposed to knowing the currents?
- What are the “branches” in electrical circuits and how do they relate to current divider rule?
- How does the current split or branch and the reason we call this circuit current “divider”?
- What are the main assumptions about the circuit we want to solve using current divider rule?
- How do the current divider formulas look like and how do we make sure we get all the terms correct?
- What do we need to pay special attention to and how do we properly match indexes in formulas?
- Which electrical quantity we can avoid calculating when we apply current divider rule?
- What is the relationship between individual branch currents and the total current of an external network?
These two divider rules and their formulas can be learned easily and later on applied not only in the process of solving various problems, but also as a help to develop logical thinking and understanding of electrical circuits in general.
4. Capacitors (14:42)
Capacitors are very important electrical components. They are used in many electrical circuits, from small electronic devices and all the way to large power engineering apparatus. We also need to understand capacitors in order to be able to follow Diodes & Rectifiers course. In this video lesson, we review the necessary knowledge related to capacitors:
- Capacitor as an energy storage component
- Formulas that describe behavior of capacitors
- Relevant capacitor related electrical quantities
- Transient processes that involve capacitors and
- Capacitive reactance of capacitors in A/C circuits
We introduce capacitor as an energy storage component first. We answer:
- In what types of circuits do we encounter capacitors?
- Why we cannot use Ohm’s Law for capacitors (at least not in a general case)?
- What is capacitance of a capacitor?
- How much is a current that flows through a capacitor in a DC circuit?
- What is the condition for voltage of a capacitor in order to have a current flowing thru a capacitor?
- How much charge can be stored in a capacitor and how can that amount be increased?
- What is the relationship between capacitor’s voltage and the amount of charge stored in it?
- What is the most fundamental difference between capacitors and resistors?
- In what form does the capacitor store electric energy?
- Which formulas can be used to calculate energy stored in a capacitor?
We cover the most important capacitor formulas that describe behavior of capacitors. We address:
- Fundamental formulas that relate capacitor’s voltage and capacitor’s current
- Derivative formula for calculating current of a capacitor (based on its voltage)
- Integral formula for calculating voltage of a capacitor (based on its current)
- Formula for the amount of charge that can be stored in a capacitor and
- Three formulas for energy stored in a capacitor (based on its capacitance, voltage and/or charge)
Next, we analyze capacitor transients that are processes in which current and voltage of a capacitor change due to a change of state in electrical circuits. Here we answer:
- Why is it important to consider the relationship between capacitor’s voltage and its charge?
- Why does a capacitor resist change in voltage?
- Why does it take time for capacitor’s voltage to increase or decrease?
- What are the two types of capacitor transients and how do we call/identify them?
- What are the initial conditions relevant to transient processes?
- How does a “charged” capacitor behave as a source in the circuit?
- Which formulas describe change of capacitor’s voltage and current during a transient?
- Why do we use exponential functions to describe capacitor transients?
- What is the resistor-capacitor (RC) circuit time constant and how do we calculate it?
- How much time does it take for a transient to finish (for practical purposes)?
When the transient is over, circuit reaches steady state. We look into the behavior of a capacitor during steady state:
- What formulas can we use in steady state and why is steady state easy to analyze?
- What can we conclude about capacitor during steady state?
- How do we treat capacitors during steady state and how do we simplify the circuit for easy analysis?
The last concept we cover is capacitive reactance of a capacitor in A/C circuit. We answer the following:
- How do we define capacitive reactance?
- Is capacitive reactance real or a complex number? What about the impedance?
- Is capacitive reactance positive or a negative number?
- What is the formula for calculating capacitive reactance?
- What is the relationship between AC circuit frequency and angular frequency?
- What is a common mistake students make with respect to capacitive reactance?
This video lesson addresses just about enough so you can solve some basic problems with capacitors and so you can also follow the course material as we progress through Diodes & Rectifiers course.
5. Inductors (14:07)
Another very important electrical component is called an inductor. Inductors are used in various electrical circuits, from small appliances and all the way to large power engineering apparatus (for example motors and transformers). We mention inductors on several occasions in Diodes & Rectifiers course so we also need to review fundamental concepts related to inductors. In this video lesson, we cover necessary knowledge needed to understand inductors:
- Inductor as an energy storage component
- Formulas that describe behavior of inductors
- Relevant inductor related electrical quantities
- Transient processes that involve inductors and
- Inductive reactance of inductors in A/C circuits
We introduce inductor as an energy storage component first. We answer:
- In what form does the inductor store electric energy?
- What is the prerequisite for inductors to be able to store energy?
- What is the relationship between voltage and current of an inductor?
- What is inductance of an inductor?
- How much is a voltage across an inductor in a DC circuit?
- What is the condition for current of an inductor in order to have a voltage across an inductor?
- Why we cannot use Ohm’s Law for inductors (at least not in a general case)?
- What is the most fundamental difference between inductors and resistors?
- What formula can be used to calculate energy stored in an inductor?
We cover the most important inductor formulas that describe behavior of inductors. We address:
- Fundamental formulas that relate inductor’s voltage and inductor’s current
- Derivative formula for calculating voltage of an inductor (based on its current)
- Integral formula for calculating current of an inductor (based on its voltage) and
- Formula for energy stored in an inductor (based on its current and inductance)
Next, we analyze inductor transients that are processes in which voltage and current of an inductor change due to a change of state in electrical circuits. Here we answer:
- Why does an inductor oppose change in current?
- Why does it take time for inductor’s current to increase or decrease?
- What are the two types of inductor transients and how do we call/identify them?
- What are the initial conditions relevant to inductor transient processes?
- Why do we use exponential functions to describe inductor transients?
- What determines the ultimate value of inductor’s current during the “charging” transient?
- Which formulas describe change in inductor’s current and voltage during transients?
- What are the similarities between inductor transients and capacitor transients?
- What type of a switch do we need to properly demonstrate inductor transient switching?
- Why does the voltage across an inductor flip and what value does it have?
- Why do inductors spark or even create dangerous (explosive) circuit conditions?
- Which electronic component can we use to protect circuits with inductors (from over-voltages)?
- What is the resistor-inductor (RL) circuit time constant and how do we calculate it?
When the transient is over, circuit reaches steady state. We look into the behavior of an inductor during steady state:
- What formulas can we use in steady state and why is steady state so easy to analyze?
- What can we conclude about inductor during steady state?
- How do we treat inductors during steady state and how do we simplify the circuit for easy analysis?
The last concept we cover is inductive reactance of an inductor in A/C circuit. We answer the following:
- How do we define inductive reactance?
- Is inductive reactance real or a complex number? What about the impedance?
- Is inductive reactance positive or a negative number?
- What is the formula for calculating inductive reactance?
- What is the relationship between AC circuit frequency and angular frequency?
This video lesson addresses the necessary material so you can attain enough knowledge to follow the Diodes & Rectifiers course. We will mention inductors in context of diodes’ role of protection as well as smoothing out the output of rectifiers.
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