Unit Outline

The unit equips students with the necessary knowledge and skills to analyse, design, and troubleshoot transmission lines and electromagnetic systems and devices. Topics covered in the unit include transmission lines, impedance matching and Smith Charts, Maxwell’s equations, static and dynamic electromagnetic fields, propagation of plane waves in free space and lossy media, and reflection and transmission of waves from planar interfaces such as building and ground surfaces. The unit lays a solid foundation for students to explore a wide range of applications, including wireless communication systems, high-speed digital circuits, electromagnetic sensors, and bioelectromagnetics.

Intended Learning Outcomes

As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.

On completion of this unit, you will be able to:


1	Calculate wave propagation characteristics in transmission lines.
2	Design matching circuit systems using transmission lines.
3	Apply Maxwell's equations to solve problems in electrostatics, magnetostatics, and time-varying electromagnetics.
4	Explain propagation, reflection, and transmission of plane electromagnetic waves.

Requisites


REQUISITE TYPE	REQUISITES
Pre-requisite	ENG231 and ENG2XX Signals and Linear Systems

Alterations as a result of student feedback

First unit offering, no student feedback.

How will I be Assessed?

For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.

Assessment schedule


ASSESSMENT TASK #	ASSESSMENT TASK NAME	DATE DUE	WEIGHT	LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:	Mid-term test	Week 8	20 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 2:	Practical laboratory	Week 8	20 %	LO1, LO2
Assessment Task 3:	Assessed tutorial	Refer to Assessment Description	20 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 4:	Exam	Exam Period	40 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Mid-term test

Task Description:

2-hour written invigilated closed-book test covering the first half of the unit's content.

Task Length:

2-hour invigilated closed book test

Due Date:

Week 8

Weight:

20 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Solve problems regarding typical scenarios involving transmission lines in both the time and frequency domains.	LO1
2	Apply the Smith Chart as a graphical tool for solving impedance matching problems.	LO2
3	Apply Maxwell's equations to calculate electric fields from time-varying magnetic fields, and vice versa.	LO3

Assessment Task 2: Practical laboratory

Task Description:

This assignment is designed for students to load match and determine transmission line parameters in a laboratory setting. Student will experimentally investigate unknown transmission parameters and apply impedance matching concepts. A written report is required to communicate the details professionally.

Task Length:

1x Written report - Maximum 10 pages (appendices excluded)

Due Date:

Week 8

Weight:

20 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Calculate fundamental parameters of transmission lines.	LO1
2	Explain the importance of impedance matching in maximising power transfer between a source and a load, and identify situations where matching systems are necessary.	LO2
3	Utilise various impedance matching techniques, including the use of transformers and stubs, to create effective matching systems.	LO2

Assessment Task 3: Assessed tutorial

Task Description:

In these sessions students will solve a series of problems. These sessions will conclude with the student submitting their work for assessment.

Task Length:

12x 2-hour assessed tutorial sessions weekly

Due Date:

Refer to Assessment Description

Weight:

20 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Calculate voltages, currents, and impedances on transmission lines.	LO1
2	Calculate the amount of power transferred from the generator to the load through the transmission line.	LO1
3	Apply the Smith Chart as a graphical tool for solving impedance matching problems.	LO2
4	Calculate electric and magnetic fields due to different distributions of charges and currents.	LO3
5	Calculate electric fields from time-varying magnetic fields, and vice versa.	LO3
6	Use the boundary conditions to solve electric and magnetic fields at the interface between different media.	LO3
7	Calculate the reflection coefficient, transmission coefficient, electric and magnetic fields for plane waves normally or obliquely incident upon plane boundaries.	LO4
8	Describe mathematically the electric and magnetic fields of plane electromagnetic waves.	LO4

Assessment Task 4: Exam

Task Description:

3-hour written invigilated exam covering all unit content.

Task Length:

3-hour invigilated exam

Due Date:

Exam Period

Weight:

40 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Solve problems regarding typical scenarios involving transmission lines in both the time and frequency domains.	LO1
2	Apply Maxwell's equations to solve problems in time-varying electromagnetics.	LO3
3	Apply the Smith Chart as a graphical tool for solving impedance matching problems.	LO2
4	Use the boundary conditions to solve electric and magnetic fields at the interface between different media.	LO3
5	Calculate the reflection coefficient, transmission coefficient, electric and magnetic fields for plane waves normally or obliquely incident upon plane boundaries.	LO4
6	Calculate power carried by plane waves.	LO4

How your final result is determined

To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.

Specifically, to demonstrate attainment of the ILOs, you must achieve

an average mark of 40% on exam and laboratory questions related to ILO1 to pass ILO1

an average mark of 40% on exam and laboratory questions related to ILO2 to pass ILO2

an average mark of 40% on exam and test questions related to ILO3 to pass ILO3

an average mark of 40% on exam and test questions related to ILO4 to pass ILO4

Academic progress review

The results for this unit may be included in a review of your academic progress. For information about progress reviews and what they mean for all students, see Academic Progress Review in the Student Portal.

Submission of assignments

Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.

Academic integrity

Academic integrity is about acting responsibly, honestly, ethically, and collegially when using, producing, and communicating information with other students and staff members.

In written work, you must correctly reference the work of others to maintain academic integrity. To find out the referencing style for this unit, see the assessment information in the MyLO site, or contact your teaching staff. For more detail about Academic Integrity, see Important Guidelines & Support.

Requests for extensions

If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.

A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.

The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.

Late penalties

Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.