THE UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST INDIES

ST. AUGUSTINE, TRINIDAD & TOBAGO, WEST INDIES

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering

ECNG 3022 – Electromagnetic Field Theory

1. GENERAL INFORMATION

Activity: Self-Study + In-Class Activity

Title: Week 4: Steady Electric Currents.

Weighting: 0% contribution to Estimated total 10-12 hours over Week 4.

final coursework mark study hours : 1

via student learning

portfolio.
Lab Dependencies2 N/A
Recommended To undertake this exercise, students should have knowledge of:
prior knowledge • Calculus – integration and differentiation
and skills3: • Circuit Theory
• Linear algebra – vector and matrix algebra
• Basic Matlab programming
Learning Lecture Notes, Edminister (2014) Chapter 7, groups and peers, me,
Resources myeLearning, Internet, Simulation software (i.e., MATLAB + PDE
Toolbox), University research databases (e-resources @ main library
website), University Library

1. LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon successful completion of this activity, students will be able to: Cognitive
Level
1. Compute steady electric currents for common transmission lines, and line, Application
surface and volume current distributions using vector field models and & Analysis
electric circuit theory
2. Apply analytical methods to calculate key (steady current) electrical Application
circuit parameters for common transmission lines & Analysis
3. Construct analytical and simulation (steady current) models for common Synthesis
transmission lines as well as line, surface and volume current distributions
4. Analyze steady current phenomena using computer-aided analysis tools Analysis
1
Estimate includes teaching time, study time, and student preparation time for classes and labs.
2
Include any Co-requisites, Post-requisites, or Forbidden course /lab combinations with respective code (C/P/F).
3
Lecturers can state lab input requirements in terms of student behaviours.

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 THE UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST INDIES
ST. AUGUSTINE, TRINIDAD & TOBAGO, WEST INDIES
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering

5. Compare results from analytical, empirical, and simulation-based Analysis

investigations, and explain differences in results, due to the strengths and
weaknesses of the different approaches

2. ACTIVITY DETAILS (ESTIMATED 10-12 HOURS)

STEP 1 – MASTERING THE MECHANICS (Estimated 4-6 hours)

Go through Chapter 7, in particular the following worked problems in the Edminister (2014):

Chapter 7 (19 worked examples)

7.1-7.7, 7.9-7.11, 7.13-7.15, 7.17-7.22.

STEP 2 – TESTING YOUR UNDERSTANDING (Estimated 1.5 hours)

Complete Quiz: Steady Electric Currents on the course website. It is not worth marks, but it
will help you to test your understanding and help me to see where there may be gaps. You
can repeat the questions as many times as you like. Please note that STEP 2 serves as a check
that you can extend the learnings of the worked examples to other situations. You can review
the solutions for these questions. You are encouraged to work with your peers to
collaboratively ensure that you master the concepts covered. This would also serve as your
budgeted tutorial hour for this week, so there would be no face to face tutorial sessions. If
there are any questions please post on the Course Forum.

STEP 3 – CONCEPT SCAFFOLDING (Estimated 1.5 hours)

You will be presented with several concepts via the Course Forum, relating to the material
covered in the previous steps. We will have open-ended discussions of these in an attempt to
reinforce your understanding of key concepts. This stage is crucial to the following stages, so
please attempt to interact with each other as much as possible. The TA and I would moderate
the discussions, and provide responses primarily when such interventions are needed.

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 THE UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST INDIES
ST. AUGUSTINE, TRINIDAD & TOBAGO, WEST INDIES
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering

STEP 4 – BROADENING YOUR PERPECTIVE (Estimated 1 hour)

The 1st half of class, week 4, Wednesday (13/2/2019) will be devoted to open discussions
about different perspectives on key content. This would serve to reinforce the work you have
done to date, and also to discuss various advanced topics relating to the material covered in
Step 1. Please make every effort to attend class and participate.

STEP 5 – APPLICATION OF THEORY TO TOY EXAMPLES (Estimated 2 hours)

For the 2nd half of class on Wednesday, you would be provided with a case study (see coaxial
cable case study on the course website). This would be uploaded to the site for your perusal
on Monday. You would be required to go through the document and discuss the material to
get a sense of how you would proceed with the problem presented. You would be required to
do both analytical (pen and paper) as well as Matlab+PDE Toolkit activities. Your approaches
would be discussed in class, and a nominal solution guide would be presented.

You would be required to go through the solution guide as a self or group-study exercise and
compare your responses to those provided. It is anticipated that this post-class activity should
not exceed 1 hour.

Since these case studies would be of comparable difficulty to the exam-level questions, you
are encouraged to participate. In addition to assisting with the in-course exam the skills
developed here would be useful in your group project.

3. PROPOSED ACTIVITY SCHEDULE

• Before end of Tuesday, Course Week 4 (week of 11th February):

o complete STEP 1 - Edminister (2014), Chapter 7 worked examples; and

o complete STEP 2.

• Wednesday, Course Week 4 (week of 11th February):

o STEP 4 – 1st hour of class; and

o 1st half of STEP 5 – 2nd hour of class.

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 THE UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST INDIES
ST. AUGUSTINE, TRINIDAD & TOBAGO, WEST INDIES
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering

• During entire Course Week 4 (week of 11th February):

o STEP 3 – Forum discussions.

• By end of Course Week 4 (week of 11th February):

o 2nd half of STEP 5.

4. OTHER ACTIVITY DETAILS (WEEK 4)

In Week 4 there will be no Monday (11/2/2019) class. This would be to give you an extra
hour for you to cover the material via self-study. At the start of Wednesday’s class, there will
be a 50-minute review of your achievement of the learning outcomes of this exercise, whereby
you are free to ask any questions that you may have on the topics presented and their
applications, or request feedback on your work in this activity.