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MITx: Circuits and Electronics 2: Amplification, Speed, and Delay

4.5 stars
16 ratings

Learn how to speed up digital circuits and build amplifiers in the design of microchips used in smartphones, self-driving cars, computers, and the Internet.

5 weeks
7–9 hours per week
Self-paced
Progress at your own speed
Free
Optional upgrade available

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Starts Nov 21
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Circuits and Electronics 2: Amplification, Speed, and Delay

About this course

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Want to learn how to construct an amplifier for mobile phones? Wondering how energy storage elements like capacitors and inductors work, or how to make microchips run faster? This free circuits course taught by edX CEO and MIT Professor Anant Agarwal and colleagues is for you.

This is the second of three online Circuits and Electronics courses and is taken by all MIT Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) majors.

Topics covered include: MOSFET large signal and small signal analysis; amplifiers; energy storage elements like capacitors and inductors; and dynamics of first-order networks and circuit speed. Design and lab exercises are also significant components of the course.

Weekly coursework includes interactive video sequences, readings from the textbook, homework, online laboratories, and optional tutorials. The course will also have a final exam.

This is a self-paced course, so there are no weekly deadlines. However, all assignments are due when the course ends.

At a glance

  • Institution: MITx
  • Subject: Electronics
  • Level: Intermediate
  • Prerequisites:

    You should have a mathematical background of working with calculus and basic differential equations, and a high school physics background in electricity and magnetism. You should also have taken Circuits and Electronics 1, or have an equivalent background in basic circuit analysis.

  • Language: English
  • Video Transcripts: اَلْعَرَبِيَّةُ, Deutsch, English, Español, Français, हिन्दी, Bahasa Indonesia, Português, Kiswahili, తెలుగు, Türkçe, 中文
  • Associated programs:
  • Associated skills:Electrical Engineering, Digital Electronics, Capacitors, Electronics, Mobile Phones, Smartphone Operation, Computer Science, Inductors

What you'll learn

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  • How to build amplifiers using MOSFETs
  • How to use intuition to describe the approximate time and frequency behavior of first-order circuits containing energy storage elements like capacitors and inductors
  • The relationship between the mathematical representation of first-order circuit behavior and corresponding real-life effects
  • How to improve the speed of digital circuits
  • Measurement of circuit variables using tools such as virtual oscilloscopes, virtual multimeters, and virtual signal generators
  • How to compare the measurements with the behavior predicted by mathematical models and explain the discrepancies

Syllabus

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Week 1: Amplifiers, MOSFET large signal analysis, MOSFET small signal analysis

Week 2: Capacitors, first-order RC circuits

Week 3: Inductors, first-order step response, first-order circuit analysis, impulses, digital circuit speed

Week 4: Impulse, step, ramp superposition, digital memory, state, ZIR, ZSR

Learner testimonials

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" Brilliant course! It's definitely the best introduction to electronics in Universe! Interesting material, clean explanations, well prepared quizzes, challenging homeworks and fun labs." - Ilya.

" 6.002x will be a classic in the field of online learning. It combines Prof. Agarwal's enthusiasm for electronics and education. The online circuit design program works very well. The material is difficult. I took the knowledge from the class and built an electronic cat feeder." - Stan

Frequently Asked Questions

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Where can I buy the textbook for this course?
You may purchase the physical textbook or its ebook from Elsevier. An online version of the book will also be accessible for free to students who upgrade to the verified certificate track in the course. **

Will the text of the lectures be available?**
Yes, transcripts of the course will be made available.

Do I need to watch the lectures live?
No. You can watch the lectures at your leisure.

I don't have the prerequisites, can I still take the course?
We do not check students for prerequisites, so you are certainly allowed to try. However, 6.002.2xdoes depend on previous experience with electricity and magnetism, and differential equations. If you do not know those subjects before taking the class, you will have to learn them over the semester, which can be a difficult task.

Who can take this course?

Unfortunately, learners residing in one or more of the following countries or regions will not be able to register for this course: Iran, Cuba and the Crimea region of Ukraine. While edX has sought licenses from the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) to offer our courses to learners in these countries and regions, the licenses we have received are not broad enough to allow us to offer this course in all locations. edX truly regrets that U.S. sanctions prevent us from offering all of our courses to everyone, no matter where they live.

This course is part of Circuits and Electronics XSeries Program

Learn more 
Expert instruction
3 high-quality courses
Self-paced
Progress at your own speed
4 months
7 - 9 hours per week

Ways to take this course

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Certificate

Free

Price

$189 USD

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Access to course materials

Unlimited

Limited

Expires on Dec 26

World-class institutions and universities

edX support

Shareable certificate upon completion

Graded assignments and exams

Read our FAQsin a new tab about frequently asked questions on these tracks.

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