Homework Set #1

Textbook: Chapter 1.1-1.3

Coverage: Introduction to ECE, SI units, overview

DUE Tuesday, March 9, 2010

1. One of the basic assumptions that we will use throughout this course, is that the electrical
systems we will examine can be considered lumped-parameter systems. Read about this
assumption on pages 5-6. Then consider your basic microwave oven and justify (show your
work here) whether or not a microwave oven can be considered a lumped-parameter system.
Make an estimate of the physical size of the oven. Assume that the microwave energy is
operating at a frequency of 1 GHz and estimate the wavelength of the microwave signals.

a. Can you analyze the microwave oven as a lumped-parameter system?

b. How small is ‘small’ for a microwave signal?

2. A 1.2kW electric coffeemaker takes 5 minutes to make a pot of coffee. If this is done four times a
day and power costs 10 cents/kWh, what is the cost of its operation for 30 days? (answer: $1.20)

3. Problem 1.1, page 17 (answer in back of book)

4. Problem 1.11, page 17 (answer: 16.2 kJ)