First-order Circuits

Reading: Sections 2.9, 8.2, 8.3, 8.6 and 8.9.

Objectives: We want to be able to

  1. recognize first-order circuits.
  2. determine the initial condition of a first-order circuit.
  3. determine the time constant of a first-order circuit
  4. use Thevenin and Norton equivalent circuits to analyze first-order circuits
  5. express element voltages and currents of first-order circuits as functions of time.
  6. use the step function to represent a piecewise linear function.
  7. interpret a plot of voltage or current from a first order circuit.
Lecture Notes:
  1. A step-by-step procedure for analyzing first-order circuits.
  2. Worked examples illustrating the step-by-step procedure.

Handouts: First-order circuits.

On-line Exercises:

  1. First-order circuits.
  2. More first-order circuits.
  3. Switched first-order circuits.


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