Electronics is a tool. Physics, like everything else in everyday life, is greatly influenced by the continuous explosive developments in electronics, and one's success in physics, like everywhere else, often depends on mastering this tool. That is why we study electronics as part of the physics curriculum. The hope is that by understanding how our instruments work and what their limitations are we can use them to do better science.
One cannot learn electronics all at once. Like in any complex subject, gaining a reasonable level of electronic skills requires going back over the material several times. Repetition and review are crucial in any learning situation. This course will provide you with a small opening into a much larger world; you will have to expand your knowledge and enhance your expertise in electronics on your own.
Get your hands dirty! This is a laboratory course, and you will need to get actively involved. You will be given few instructions on how to proceed, and sometimes these instructions will be deliberately vague. The results you get and the time you spend on experimental work will depend strongly on your ingenuity.
Use the best tools for the job. For example, you will be given access to personal computers; you are encouraged to use them to plot and analyze your data and to prepare lab reports. Often, only the raw data needs to be filled in the tables in your lab book, and all calculations can be done inside the computer program on the entire data set at once.
Safety is a state of mind. Take this trite slogan to heart. Be alert, look out for possible dangers, check your circuits and think before turning the power on. Acquire and maintain good working habits around your workbench, keep your work area tidy and free of loose wires and components. Turn the power off before leaving.
For info, write to: physics@brocku.ca