ELECTRONICS
WAEC SYLLABUS ON BASIC ELECTRONICS
PREAMBLE
The syllabus is intended to equip candidates with broad understanding of the technology ofmanufacturing, maintenance and repair of domestic and industrial equipment. It will also offercandidates sufficient knowledge and skills to form valuable foundation for electronic-relatedvocation or pursue further educational qualifications.Candidates will be expected to cover all the topics.
OBJECTIVES
The objective of the syllabus is to test candidates:(1) knowledge and understanding of the basic concepts and principles of electronics;
(2) ability to use simple electronic devices to build and test simple electronic systems;
(3) problem-solving skills through the use of the design process;
(4) preparedness for further work in electronics;
(5) knowledge in entrepreneurial skills and work ethics.
SCHEME OF EXAMINATION
There will be three papers, Papers 1, 2 and 3, all of which must be taken. Papers 1 and 2 shall becomposite paper to be taken at one sitting.
PAPER 1:
will consist of fifty multiple-choice objective questions all of which are to beanswered in 1 hour for 50 marks.
PAPER 2:
will consist of seven short-structured questions. Candidates will be required toanswer any five in 1 hour for 50 marks.PAPER 3:
will be a practical paper of two experiments both of which are to be carried out bycandidates in 3 hours for 100 marks.Alternative to Practical Test
lternatively, in the event that materials for the actual practical test cannot beacquired, the Council may consider testing theoretically, candidates’ level ofacquisition of the practical skills prescribed in the syllabus. For this alternative test,there will be two compulsory questions to be answered within 2 hours for 100marks.DETAILED SYLLABUS
| TOPICS | CONTENTS | NOTES |
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1. ELECTRON EMISSION | Types of electron emission Application of electron emission | Qualitative treatment should include : Thermionic emission; photoemission; secondary emission and field emission.Relate it to diode, triode, tetrode, pentode, andcathode ray tube. |
2. MEASURING INSTRUMENTS | Concepts of measuring instrument Principles of operation and protection ofmeasuring instruments | Qualitative treatment only which shouldinclude: Classification – analogue and digital Types and uses of multimeter, voltmeter,ammeter, ohmmeter, oscilloscope etc. |
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3. SEMICONDUCTOR | Concepts of semiconductor Semiconductor materials (silicon,germanium etc.) Doping Formation of p-type and n-type semiconductors. | Qualitative treatment only. |
| SEMICONDUCTOR DIODES Concept of diodes Biasing of diodes | Treatment should include operationalprinciples of diodes Type of diodes Diode ratings – voltage, current and powerApplication of diodes Construction of a simple circuit using aP-N junction diode Practical demonstration of I-V characteristicsof P-N junction diode in the forward andreverse bias modes. | |
| TRANSISTORS Concepts of transistor | Meaning of transistor, biasing of transistor,Uses and advantages. BJT characteristics Advantages of transistor over valves Formation, function and principles ofOperation. Transistor as a switch, inverter, an amplifier Verification of BJT characteristics. Input, output and transfer characteristicsTransfer configuration Qualitative treatment only – formation, functions and principles ofoperation Advantages over discrete components Advantages of MOSFET over BJT | |
| OTHER SEMICONDUCTORDEVICES Thermistor, diac, triac and thyristor, etc | Circuit symbols Principles of operation Applications. | |
| INTEGRATED CIRCUITS | Application of integrated circuitsExplanation of RAM, ROM and EPROM | |
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4. CIRCUIT ANALYSIS | ELECTRIC CURRENT Structure of atom Conductors and insulators Direct and alternating current Sources of direct current Sources of alternating current | Qualitative treatment only Uses of conductors and insulators Differences between direct and alternatingcurrent |
| RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN VOLTAGE,CURRENT AND RESISTANCE Current, voltage and resistance. Ohm’s law Simple calculation of current, voltage andresistance. | Construction of simple circuit to demonstrateOhm’s law | |
| ELECTRIC POWER Concept of electric power Relationship between power, current andvoltage. Other formulae for finding electricalpower Calculation of electric power in a givencircuit | Qualitative and quantitative treatments | |
| CIRCUIT COMPONENTS Types of resistors, capacitors andinductors Symbols, signs and unit of measurement Colour coding and rating of resistors andcapacitors | Practical determination of the value of a fixedcolour code resistor | |
| ELECTRIC CIRCUIT Electric circuit Circuit boards Circuit arrangement: series, parallel,series-parallel Calculation on circuit arrangement | Carry out practical wiring of different circuitarrangement | |
| ALTERNATING CURRENTCIRCUITS R-L-C circuits Generator principles | Qualitative and quantitative treatments shouldinclude - Concepts of capacitive reactance, inductive reactance and impedance - RL and RC circuits - Calculations of capacitive reactance(XC) and inductive reactance (XL) - Resonance frequencyPrinciples of operation of an a.c. generator | |
| POWER IN A.C. CIRCUITS | Qualitative and quantitative treatments of: - Power and power triangle - Power factor and its correction - Advantages and disadvantages ofpower factor correction - Calculation of power factor - Q-factor and bandwidth | |
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5. AMPLIFIERS | VOLTAGE AMPLIFIERS | Biasing methods. Treatment of the transistor assingle stage. Common-emitter amplifier. Frequency response of an amplifier Advantages and disadvantages of negativefeedback |
| POWER AMPLIFIERS | Classification: Class A, Class B, Class AB,Class C, application, power gain, methods ofbiasing and efficiency. Classification of power gain. | |
| PUSH-PULL AMPLIFIERS | Qualitative treatment including matched andcomplementary pairs. | |
| OPERATIONAL AMPLIFIERS | Properties of an ideal operational amplifier Inverting and non-inverting operationalamplifiers(op-amps) Types of operational amplifiers Applications of op-amps Simple calculations involving inverting, noninverting,summing amplifiers and voltagefollower | |
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6. POWER SUPPLY | D.C. POWER SUPPLY UNIT | Dry cells, solar cells, cadium cells,accumulators Batteries: Rechargeable and non-rechargeable |
| RECTIFICATION | Qualitative treatment should include: - Rectification, regulation - Types of voltage regulator e.g. diac,triac, thyristor, series voltage regulator,transistorized electronic voltageregulator Functions of each block | |
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7. OSCILLATORS, MULTIVIBRATORS AND DIGITAL BASICS | OSCILLATORS | Difference between positivefeedback(oscillator) and negative feedback(amplifier) Principles of an oscillator Types of oscillators: Hartley, Colpitts, phaseshift, tuned (load and crystal) oscillatorsAdvantages of negative feedback Calculations involving negative feedbacks Block diagram of an oscillator Application of oscillator |
| MULTIVIBRATORS(Non-sinusoidal) Principles of operation and applications | Types of multivibrators(monostable, bistable and astable) | |
| DIGITAL BASICS Number system | Different number system e.g. binary, octal andhexadecimal Simple calculation in binary number Conversion from one base to another and viceversa Addition and subtraction of binary numbers | |
| Logic gates(Combinational) | Qualitative treatments of AND, OR, NOT,NOR and NAND Logic gates using switching arrangements,truth table and Boolean expression | |
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8. COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS, TRANSDUCERS AND SENSORS | Electromagnetic waves. characteristics of radio waves Principles of radio waves | Relationship between velocity frequency andwave length Meaning of radio communication Modulation and demodulation Advantages of F.M. over A.M. Phase modulation (mention only) |
| Stages of radio receiver | Types of radio receivers | |
| Fault detection in radio receiver | Advantages of superheterodyne over directinput receiver Use faulty radio and detect and repair faultProject work on construction and designing ofa simple radio receiver | |
| Transmitters and receivers | Block diagrams of A.M. and F.M. transmitters Block diagrams of A.M. and F.M. superheterodyne radio receiversBlock diagrams of mono and colour T.V.chrome receivers Functions of each block and direction of signalflow Qualitative treatment of T.V. standard(NTSC,PAL,SECAM,BIG) | |
| Methods of Communication | Fibre optics, microwave, satellite, cellularphone, digital communication network, etc. | |
| Transducers and Sensors | Meaning of transducers and sensors Principles of operation Types and uses to include: Acoustic, dynamicelectrostatic, electromagnetic, capacitive,pressure sensor, photoelectric, proximitysensor etc. Thermistor as a temperature sensing device | |
| Acoustic transducer | Qualitative treatments only Types of acoustic transducers e.g. loudspeaker,microphone, earphone Principles of operation and function Application of acoustic transducers | |
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9. CONTROL SYSTEM | Control Unit | Qualitative treatment only - Types of control circuits(open andclose loop) - Principle of operation of open loop andclose loop |
| SERVO MECHANISM | Qualitative treatment only - Meaning - Principle of operation, types, uses andapplication e.g. in car, doors, boothsetc. | |
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10. MAGNETIC AND ELECTRIC FIELDS, ELECTROMAGNETIC INDUCTION/TRANSFORMERS | Electromagnetic field | Trace magnetic lines of force current-carryingconductor Lenz’s and Faraday’s laws. |
| Electromagnetic induction | Definitions only | |
| Self and mutual induction | Calculations involving energy stored in a coil Applications of electromagnetism Electric bell, solenoid, loudspeaker, buzzer,moving-coil instrument, moving-ironinstrument, earphone and microphone | |