Upon completion of this module students will understand the basic elements of electrostatics and electromagnetics. Students will be able to demonstrate the importance of these core topics in engineering applications and complete simple designs of their own.

The course covers electrostatics, current and permanent electromagnetism. In particular, it is the first time that year one students meet design as distinct from problem based activity. This part of the course demands innovation and also demands that the student has approach as near as possible to a specification which may not, of itself, be possible.

The second part of the module covers electromechanics. The aims of this section will provide students with a fundamental knowledge of the principles and construction of DC and AC machines, transformers and linear actuators.

(LO1) Basic understanding of charge and electric field strength.

(LO2) Knowledge of Gauss's Law and its engineering applications.

(LO3) Basic understanding of the generation of electric currents. 

(LO4) Knowledge of engineering applications of the magnetic effects of currents.

(LO5) Understanding the fundamentals of current flow into inductors and capacitors.

(LO6) An understanding of how the physical laws of electromagnetism and mechanics apply to practical motors, transformers and actuators.

(LO7) An understanding of the properties of materials best suited for use in electromechanical devices.

(LO8) An introductory knowledge of the behaviour of common electrical devices, such as series and shunt dc motors, alternators, solenoids and transformers

(S1) Intellectual Abilities: Solve electric field problems (including the application of Gauss's Law to find capacitance); Determine the magnetic effects of electrical currents in circuits (including the application of Ampere's Law to current carrying wires); Determine the performance of AC and DC motors, transformers and simple electro-mechanical actuators.

(S2) Practical Skills: Use of specific instrumentation; Use of spreadsheets in design applications; An ability to analyse a simple electromechanical system in order to predict its characteristics; An ability to prepare an initial design for an electromechanical device from a specification; An ability to take simple electro-mechanical tests on an electrical machine to evaluate its performance; Ability to perform laboratory work safely and effectively.

(S3) General Transferable Skills; Independent learning and time management skills; Problem solving and design skills.

Introduction to Simple Electrostatics: simple Electrostatics including quantities and units; review of Coulomb''s Law.

Electric fields and Gauss’s Law: Coulomb''s Law and electric field lines; electric potential and work; closed surface flux lines application to cylinders/cables, relationship to Coulombs Law; Gaussian surfaces and the application of Gauss''s Law; Definition of electric flux density.

Applications of Electrostatics: Calculation of capacitance in capacitors and coaxial cable; Energy stored in a capacitor; Design considerations.

Dielectric Materials and their use in Efficient Capacitor Design
Dielectric mechanisms in materials: use of dielectric materials in capacitor design and student design and evaluation exercise; spherical capacitors; application of Gauss''s Law and student design exercise.

Current and Ohm''s Law: Drift of electrons in a material, current in solids; Ohm’s La w and its origins.

Ampere's Law: Ampere's Law and comparisons to Guass's Law; Magnetic fluxes/fields around straight wires with current; Sources of magnetic fields including solenoids and electromagnets; Magnetic properties of materials; B and H, BH Loops; The Biot-Savart Law and the effect of magnetic fields on current carrying wires.

Magnetic Circuits and Electromagnetic Induction: Magnetic circuits (with and without air gaps) and comparison with electrical circuits; Introduction to electromagnetic induction, drives and actuators; Faraday''s Law and induced voltage; Inductors and applications; Case study and design exercise; Energy stored in a magnetic field.

Actuators and Transformers: Linear actuators from first principles; Case study and introduction to design exercise; Moving coil transducers; Ideal transformers, step up and step down transformers, turns ratio; Wireless charging; Practical transformers; sources of loss; Modelling practic al transformers and transformer tests.

Motors and Generators: DC motors; principle of operation, torque variation; DC generators; principle of operation, induced emf; AC generators; principle of operation; DC machines; different connection types, equivalent circuits (armature and field windings); Calculation of torque.

Alternators: Different configurations; singe, two and three phase; Different numbers of poles on rotor and impact on output frequency; Case study of car alternator.

Further DC and AC Motors: Shunt, series and compound connections.
Calculation of motor speed; Operational characteristics of different connection types; Motor efficiency and design considerations; Induction (squirrel cage) motors; Slip and synchronous speed; Advantages, disadvantages and applications.

Due to Covid-19, one or more of the following delivery methods will be implemented based on the current local conditions and the situation of registered students. It is anticipated that both a) & b) will be in operation for semester 1.
(a) Hybrid delivery, with social distancing on Campus
Teaching Method 1 - On-line asynchronous lectures
Description: Lectures to explain the material
Attendance Recorded: No
Notes: On average one per week

Teaching Method 2 - Synchronous face to face tutorials
Description: Tutorials on the Assignments and Problem Sheets
Attendance Recorded: Yes
Notes: On average one per fortnight

Teaching Method 3 - Campus based Laboratory Work
Description: Laboratory Session to undertake Experiment M
Attendance Recorded: Yes
Notes: As Scheduled last 1 day.

(b) Fully online delivery and assessment
Teaching Method 1 - On-line asynchronou s lectures
Description: Lectures to explain the material
Attendance Recorded: No
Notes: On average one per week

Teaching Method 2 - On-line synchronous tutorials
Description: Tutorials on the Assignments and Problem Sheets
Attendance Recorded: Yes
Notes: On average one per fortnight

Teaching Method 3 - on-line Laboratory Work
Description: on-line Laboratory Sessions to undertake Experiment M
Attendance Recorded: Yes
Notes: Expected to take 1 day.

(c) Standard on-campus delivery with minimal social distancing
Teaching Method 1 - Lecture
Description: Lectures to explain the material
Attendance Recorded: Yes
Notes: On average one per week

Teaching Method 2 - Tutorial
Description: Tutorials on the Assignments and Problem Sheets
Attendance Recorded: Yes
Notes: On average one per fortnight

Teaching Method 3 - Laboratory Work
Description: Laboratory Sessions to undertake Experiment M
Attendance Recorded: Yes
Notes: Expected 1 day to complete