Physics for Computer Science Syllabus

Importance of Physics in Computer Science

• Understanding basic electrical and electronic principles is essential for Computer Science students.
• Every computer component requires electrical power to function.

Course Syllabus

• The course covers fundamental electronics concepts for computers.
• Topics include basic electrical concepts, circuits, circuit analysis, operational amplifiers, semiconductors, and basic electronics.

Electrical Quantities

• Current, voltage, and resistance are the fundamental concepts of electricity and electronics.
• Voltage is the potential difference between two points in an electric circuit, representing the work required to move a charge.
• Current is the flow of electrical charge through a conductive medium.
• Resistance is the opposition to the flow of electrons, reducing current flow.

Electronic Components: Active and Passive

• Electronic components are categorized as active or passive.
• Active components generate energy, requiring an external source and capable of amplification.
• Examples of active components include diodes and transistors.
• Passive components do not generate energy but store or dissipate it.
• Examples of passive components include resistors, capacitors, inductors, and transformers.

Semiconductors

• Semiconductor materials have conductivity between conductors and insulators.
• Semiconductor materials form the basis of electronic devices.
• Semiconductors are either:
  • Intrinsic (pure): without impurities
  • Extrinsic (impure): with impurities added to enhance conductivity
  • P-type semiconductors: have trivalent impurities
  • N-type semiconductors: have pentavalent impurities

Active Components: Diode

• Diodes allow current to flow in one direction, known as unidirectional property.
• The common type is the P-N junction diode.
• Examples of diodes include crystal diodes and light-emitting diodes (LEDs).

Active Components: Transistor

• Transistors are active semiconductor devices with two P-N junctions, used for amplification.
• A transistor has three terminals: emitter, base, and collector in a bipolar junction transistor (BJT).
• In a field-effect transistor (FET), the terminals are source, drain, and gate.

Passive Components: Resistor

• Resistors control the flow of current by resisting the movement of electrons.
• Resistors are colour-coded to indicate their resistance value.
• Resistors can be fixed, with a specific resistance value, or variable, where resistance can be adjusted.

Passive Components: Capacitor

• Capacitors store electrical energy in an electric field.
• They consist of two parallel plates separated by an insulating material called a dielectric.
• Capacitance is measured in farads (F).
• Capacitors also have colour bands to denote capacitance and voltage characteristics.

Integrated Circuit (IC)

• An integrated circuit (IC) is an electronic circuit with many components packaged on a single semiconductor chip.
• ICs are smaller, cheaper, and faster due to miniaturization.
• Digital ICs are widely used in computers and networking.

Semiconductor Memory

• Semiconductor memory devices store data electronically, fabricated on integrated circuits.
• Memory types include:
  • Primary Memory: temporary storage including RAM and ROM.
  • Secondary Memory: permanent storage like hard disk drives, CD/DVDs.

Power Supply

• A power supply converts AC power to DC power for computer components.
• Power supplies used in computers include DC power supply, AC power supply, linear regulated power supply, batteries, uninterrupted power supply (UPS), and switched mode power supply (SMPS).
• Rectifier circuits prevent current from reversing direction in the power supply system.

This quiz explores the importance of physics principles in computer science. It covers fundamental electronics concepts, electrical quantities, and the classification of electronic components. Understanding these topics is crucial for any computer science student.