Electronic Instrumentation: Quiz Information

Quiz 2: AC Circuits and Diodes (8 October 1997)
1. There will be two kinds of problems: (1) Similar or identical to homework problems (Chapters 4,5, and 6) and (2) Problems similar or identical to questions you addressed in your lab assignments.
2. Two of the homework problems will be included in the quiz worded exactly as they appear in the textbook. It will thus be useful to make sure you know how to do all of them.
3. The remainder of the quiz will be multiple choice.
   Some Examples:
   • Given a circuit diagram like the one in Fig 5.13 which includes an AC source, a resistor, an inductor and a capacitor in series, you will be asked to identify which of three or four PSpice voltage or current plots (vs. frequency) would characterize the performance of this circuit. It will not be necessary to fully solve the circuit equations. Rather, incorrect plots will be eliminated by checking such things as resonance frequencies, low and high frequency limits. For example, a circuit with R=10 ohms, L=10 mH, C=1 uF and a voltage source equal to 1 volt will produce one of the following plots when the voltage is measured across the capacitor: Plots. Which one is it?
   • You will be given i-v characteristic curves of a conventional diode and a Zener diode. These plots will not be labeled. You will have to identify which is which. (This question will appear on the quiz.)
   • You could be asked to choose some typical values from a list of numbers for such parameters as capacitance, resistance, inductance, saturation current, Zener voltage, etc. For example, you could be asked whether all the following numbers are typical: R=1k, C=10F, L=6uH, Vz=12v, Is=10nA. Since all but C=10F are typical, you would have to conclude that the list taken as a whole is not typical.
   • Given a circuit diagram like the one in Fig. 4.4 (a) you will be given a plot like in Fig. 4.4 (b) and be asked to identify which of the curves plotted vs time is the voltage across the source, the voltage across the resistor and/or the voltage across the capacitor. The plots will be obtained using PSpice or using the lab equipment.