Understanding EEEng: Tips to Get Started

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around preparing for a degree in electrical and electronic engineering (EE). Participants share resources, tips, and personal experiences related to foundational knowledge in physics and electronics, with a focus on understanding key concepts and materials relevant to the field.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses discomfort with their physics knowledge and seeks tips for improvement in preparation for their EE studies.
  • Another participant recommends "The Art of Electronics" by Horowitz and Hill as a valuable resource for beginners in EE, noting its manageable math and practical approach.
  • There is a discussion about the age of the recommended book, with some participants acknowledging its outdatedness but asserting that its principles remain relevant.
  • Concerns are raised about the comprehensibility of circuit symbols and concepts in existing physics textbooks, indicating a struggle with foundational material.
  • A participant emphasizes the importance of understanding the capabilities of electronic devices and the role of intuition in design, suggesting that familiarity with the material will develop over time.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the value of the recommended book for foundational knowledge, but there is no consensus on the adequacy of existing physics resources or the participant's current understanding of the material.

Contextual Notes

Some participants mention specific limitations in their understanding of circuit symbols and concepts, indicating a need for further clarification and study. The discussion reflects varying levels of comfort with the subject matter and differing opinions on the relevance of older texts.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals preparing for studies in electrical and electronic engineering, particularly those seeking foundational knowledge in physics and electronics.

GnMvP
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I will be doing electrical and electronic engineering next year..
But i don't really feel comfortable with the knowledge of physics i got!..
Even when i started studying again from the scratch(capacitors) i couldn't understand what the book was talking about...

Do you have any tip for me that could be helpful?
I think i have plenty of time to reach the some sort of standards i want to!
 
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GnMvP said:
I will be doing electrical and electronic engineering next year..
But i don't really feel comfortable with the knowledge of physics i got!..
Even when i started studying again from the scratch(capacitors) i couldn't understand what the book was talking about...

Do you have any tip for me that could be helpful?
I think i have plenty of time to reach the some sort of standards i want to!

Do you mean that you are just about to start college/university, and want to brush up some to help your studies in EE? If so, I'd suggest buying the book, "The Art of Electronics" by Horowitz and Hill. It is a good basic electronics book, with just enough math to be useful and still manageable for a person new to EE. This is a book that you can read cover-to-cover in a couple months (or faster if you have the spare time), and you will come away with a good basic knowledge of different kinds of circuits, including practical devices that you will use every day in EE work.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/0521370957/?tag=pfamazon01-20


.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Yeah, exactly!
Thanks for the suggestion!
Do you think that i will be on a respectable level if i understand all or the most of the things it is talking about?!

PS: Isn't it little old?.. Publisher: Cambridge University Press; 2 edition (July 28, 1989)
it was publshed the year i was born :P
 
GnMvP said:
Yeah, exactly!
Thanks for the suggestion!
Do you think that i will be on a respectable level if i understand all or the most of the things it is talking about?!

PS: Isn't it little old?.. Publisher: Cambridge University Press; 2 edition (July 28, 1989)
it was publshed the year i was born :P
Yes. This is one of the most respectable books in electrical engineering.

Although you are right, it is outdated, but its principles are not.
 
Last edited:
GnMvP said:
PS: Isn't it little old?.. Publisher: Cambridge University Press; 2 edition (July 28, 1989)
it was publshed the year i was born :P

Pretty amazing -- I hadn't noticed that. I only have the 1st edition (1980)!

But yes, for an intro text, all this stuff is pretty relevant. And even the lists of real devices in the book are still pretty current. There are newer rail-to-rail opamps available that I don't think H&H covers, for example, and they might be light on LDO regulators (low drop-out), and maybe a few other things. But if you read and understand that book, you will be well prepared for your EE studies. Heck, you'll be well ahead of the game. You will also be equipped to start building some electronics kits and some of your own basic experimental circuits. And if you do that, you will be that much better prepared for when you see the material in your regular EE courses and labs.

BTW, in case you didn't see the thread, we recently had some fun (and learning) with a set of sections in H&H about "Bad Circuits". This thread will start to give you a feel for why that particular book's practical, real-world approach to basic electronics is so useful:

https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=178516

.
 
what said:
Yes. This is one of the most respectable books in electrical engineering.

Although you are right, it is outdated, but its principles are not.
berkeman said:
Pretty amazing -- I hadn't noticed that. I only have the 1st edition (1980)!

But yes, for an intro text, all this stuff is pretty relevant. And even the lists of real devices in the book are still pretty current. There are newer rail-to-rail opamps available that I don't think H&H covers, for example, and they might be light on LDO regulators (low drop-out), and maybe a few other things. But if you read and understand that book, you will be well prepared for your EE studies. Heck, you'll be well ahead of the game. You will also be equipped to start building some electronics kits and some of your own basic experimental circuits. And if you do that, you will be that much better prepared for when you see the material in your regular EE courses and labs.

BTW, in case you didn't see the thread, we recently had some fun (and learning) with a set of sections in H&H about "Bad Circuits". This thread will start to give you a feel for why that particular book's practical, real-world approach to basic electronics is so useful:

w ww.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=178516

.

Thanks you both!
You have been very helpful!

I already have this book (w ww.amazon.com/University-Physics-Modern-Mastering-International/dp/0321204697/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1209087882&sr=8-11.. but with the green cover); Although i couldn't really understand it! -sorry i am not allowed to post links-

Ok, don't get mad but i didn't even understand the symbols on the circuits at the pictures you have posted on the other thread...:redface:

What about electromagnetism and electromagnetic fields?
 
What about electromagnetism and electromagnetic fields?

Its your maths that you will need to keep keen.
Dont worry too much about the topics though they may look daunting...you will grow into them if you really like the subject.
the secret is to get to know the capabilities of each device. This is somewhat tied up with the equations describing their behaviour and will be the root of any design that you do.
However, once you start 'seeing' the behaviour of the devices, intuition will play a greater role in eeking out a design from scratch.

good luck with the course.
 

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