Innovative Approach for the Study of Tuning Circuit with Open Source Tools

Abstract

In the new age of an online teaching-learning process, present instructional approach expects students to be an active learner, which necessitates a new instructional tool that can provide opportunity for active learning. The use of technology in teaching-learning has become a key factor which helps in conceptual understanding. Simulation being one of the valuable instructional tools renders an opportunity to visualize the concepts and facilitate to build the mental model. The present work proposes a study of electrical circuit experiments performed using open source tools such as XCOS and expEYES. These tools facilitate in developing higher order critical thinking and analysis skill. XCOS being one of the tools in Scilab provides the visual simulation environment for varying the input parameters of the model. The RL, RC, and RLC tuning circuits are virtually modeled by using the XCOS and the real circuits made with expEYES, which facilitates the study of response curves with ease. In the later case, the results obtained by using expEYES compared with the results of XCOS. In addition, the study explains how such response of simple linear circuits can be extended in different applications. Demonstrations and visualization of the response curve and phase flow of linear circuits will overlay the way to understand experimental and numerical results. This innovative approach can be used in the classroom demonstration of a harmonic oscillator and resonant circuits in advance level physics and engineering laboratories.