Voltage and current sources, both independent and dependent, are introduced, along with resistors and their equivalent circuit laws. The Thevenin and Norton theorems are presented. Several examples of resistor applications are given. Various techniques for solving circuit problems are discussed, including Kirchhoff’s laws, the mesh loop method, superposition, and source transformation. Input resistance of measuring instruments is discussed and the various types of AC signals are presented.

The bipolar junction transistor is introduced and its operation is explained. DC and switching applications are given. The need for DC biasing for AC amplification is illustrated and then satisfied by the Universal DC bias circuit. The thermal stability of this circuit is discussed and resulting constraints on resistor selection are developed. Amplifier gain, input impedance, and output impedance are defined and their usefulness is explained. The AC equivalents for the bipolar transistor are developed and then used to derive the properties of the common-emitter, common-collector, and common-base amplifiers. The concepts of distortion and feedback are introduced.

The operational amplifier is introduced and the basic rules for its operation are given. Nonlinear operation is explained and the golden rules for linear operation are derived. Several examples of linear operation are given, including amplifiers, buffer, adder, differential amplifier, integrator, and differentiator. Practical considerations for using op-amps are discussed, including bias currents, offset voltages, slew rate limits, and frequency response. As a final non-linear example, an oscillator circuit, the astable multivibrator, is presented and analyzed.

Junction- and metal oxide-field effect transistors are introduced and their operation is explained. Governing equations are presented. DC and switching applications are given. The Universal DC bias circuit is used to provide DC biasing for AC amplification circuits. The AC equivalents for the field-effect transistor are developed and then used to derive the properties of the common-source, common-drain, and common-gate amplifiers.

The band theory of solids is developed and used to explain the properties of conductors, insulators, and semiconductors (both pure and doped). Type n and p semiconductors are introduced and combined to form the p-n junction or diode. Analysis of diode circuits is introduced, followed by several applications of diodes. As a lead-in to power supply circuits, rectification, filtering, and regulation are discussed. Zener diodes are introduced and applications are given. The silicon-controlled rectifier and some applications are presented. Photodiode operation and the resulting circuit analysis are given, along with a discussion of optimization. An introduction to switching power supplies (boost, buck, and buck-boost) is presented.