Electronics

 

What you will study:

Electronics is an increasingly vital part of our lives; the principles being directly applicable across a wide spectrum of technologies. Taking this subject as an option will mark out any student as one who can apply themselves to any technical task, whether as a technician, a designer or a manager.

 

Course Content:

Component 1: Discovering Electronics. Written examination: 90 minutes: 40% of qualification

A mix of short answer, structured and extended writing questions, with some set in a practical context.

1. Electronic systems and sub-systems. Sensors for light, sound, temperature, movement, pressure.

2. Circuit concepts. Outputs for driving motors, lamps, sounders, actuators.

3. Resistive components in circuits

4. Switching circuits, using transistors

5. Applications of diodes

6. Combinational logic systems

 

Component 2: Application of Electronics. Written examination: 90 minutes: 40% of qualificationA mix of short answer, structured and extended writing questions, with some set in a practical context.

1. Operational amplifiers, a look at audio and radio circuits.
2. Timing circuits
3. Sequential systems
4. Interfacing digital to analogue circuits, the real world.
5. Control circuits using programmable microcontrollers.

Practical work is carried out on a computerised circuit simulator, where components can be easily manipulated and measurements are taken during simulation. The simulator is available for home use.

 

Component 3: Extended system design and realisation task. Non-exam assessment: 20% of qualification

An extended system design and realisation task to assess electronics skills.

A systematic, engineering approach is used to:

• analyse the task requirement and derive a design specification

• develop and test a range of sub-systems

• develop, realise and test a final physical system

• evaluate the final system against the design specification and suggest improvements.
  
  

 

Studying this GCSE in Electronics enables learners to:

• Develop scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding of the behaviour of analogue and digital electrical/electronic circuits including a wide range of electronic components

• Develop an understanding of the nature, processes and methods of electronics as an engineering discipline to help them answer questions about practical circuits

• Be aware of new and emerging technologies

• Develop and learn how to apply observational, practical, problem solving and evaluative skills in the identification of needs in the world around them and to propose and test electronic solutions