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• Electronics

Electronics

The way our modern world works is mostly due to the pervasive influence of electronic devices.  Some of these are obvious, like the mobile phone or laptop computer.  But they can also be found in motor cars and even mundane household appliances.  This course gives an insight into how we can use a handful of electronic components to perform a wide range of tasks, from turning on a heater to transmitting a signal along an optical fibre.

The emphasis on the course is more towards the practical rather than the theoretical as students will have to design and build their own functioning electronic circuits.

What will I study in electronics?

AS: Units 1-3

Topics covered in the first half of the Electronics A level start with the basic electrical quantities (voltage, current, resistance) which students have met in GCSE.  We show them how to select components to suit those values then apply these to include the key components that are used in electronic circuits such as resistors, capacitors, diodes, transistors, transducers, logic gates, timers and amplifiers.  Along with this is an introduction to the systems approach to designing electronic circuits.  There is also a practical assessment in which the student designs and builds an electronic solution to a real life problem.

A2: Units 4-6

For A level, the topics look at some of the major applications of electronics to the modern world in more detail: microprocessors, robotics, optelectronics, along with mobile and radio communications systems.  As well as a theoretical understanding students will learn how to integrate these into functioning circuits.  This includes programming of microprocessors to make complex decisions based on inputs from various sensors.  The second year also has a practical project which will draw on these topics and allow the student to get a real feel for how these more advanced systems are designed and constructed.

How will I be assessed?

The AS course consists of two 1 hour written examinations (Units 1 and 2) plus a practical project for Unit 3.  For A2, assessment is two 1½ hour written examinations (Units 4 and 5) along with a practical project for Unit 6 which should take about 30 hours to complete.  Units 1, 2, 4 and 5 constitute 70% of the total grade, with the remaining 30% split between the practical assessment in Units 3 and 6.

Do I need to have studied electronics before?

No.  The course is designed so that students without previous experience of electronics can participate.  However, physics and mathematics GCSE passes at C or above will usually be required.

Who will teach me?

Dr Daniel Pooley: Dr Pooley holds undergraduate and doctoral degrees in Physics from the University of Canterbury, New Zealand, where his research focused on the spectroscopic and photometric monitoring of star constellations.  Prior to joining David Game in 2004, Dr Pooley worked as a private tutor and a visiting lecturer at the Universidad de Los Andes, Venezuela.  He is a keen astronomer, a Member of the Hampstead Scientific Society and a proficient web developer, skilled in a range of programming languages including C, Java and Fortran.  Dr Pooley emphasises the experimental side of physics, which helps reinforce the theoretical side of the subject.  His classes are always dynamic and engaging.  Dr Pooley advises students on their university choices in physics and related subjects.

Which subjects complement electronics?

Mathematics, Physics, ICT.

Which careers can follow a study of Electronics?

Electronics students can pursue further study at university in electrical and electronic engineering or computer science degrees.  Graduate electronic engineers are employed in a wide range of industries, as the pervasiveness of electronics means that they are needed even in areas which apparently have nothing to do with electronics, such as kitchen appliances and automobile engines.  Electrical engineers will deal more with industrial applications of electricity, like electrical power distribution and motor design.  Amongst the different types of engineer an electronic and electrical engineer is one of the highest paid.  Computer science graduates are also finding themselves more and more widely employed, turning up in any industry where a great deal of programming is required.  This includes computer-generated animation studios, information processing services and telecoms.  Even students who do not follow a career in electronics can benefit from the analytical, design and practical skills developed as part of the course.