[jp1390]

This course was pretty much an electrical and power course for Materials, Tron, Mechanical, and Software engineering streams. I found that the professor Dr. Howlader was very hard to understand in lecture, but his lecture slides were very good. As the semester went on, most didn't go to lecture and he took notice and if you had a question to ask him he would insist that you were not in his lecture and that he was not going over that topic again, which was annoying.

The main theme of this course was to show how to harness E&M principles in power systems. The main topics covered were: the basics of E&M, Transformers, Magnetic Circuits, Active/Reactive/Apparent Powers and Efficiency, Three-Phase systems, and Multi-Phase/Split-Phase Induction Motors.

There was a tutorial and practice set each week which the TA went through which was very helpful and most went to that rather than lectures. The prof would attend the tutorials but would be more of a distraction then an aid by correcting the TA every half-second and flickering the lights on and off for the projector and the blackboard. Very annoying.

There were four assignments which were pretty much the same questions as the tests and problem sets and were take home. Most did very well on these.

The textbook, "Electrical Power and Controls" by Timothy L. Skvarenina and William E. Dewitt, was pretty useless and was not needed to succeed in this course. The practice sets and assignments, along with the lecture slides were sufficient.

Mark Breakdown

Tutorial Attendance - 3%
Assignments - 12%
Midterm - 35%
Final - 50%

To do well in this course, I'm not saying that you should skip lectures, but there are plenty of useful learning tools to use such as: lectures slides, practice sets, assignments, tutorials, and of course the internet. Just make sure to at least do the practice sets/assignments and go to the tutorials.

Those looking to save some cash I suggest you DO NOT buy the textbook. I found it to be pretty much useless most of the time. If you do happen to need it say for a difficult assignment question just check it out at the library.

To ace this course all you need is the lecture slides and to work through the assignments and practise tests. The practise tests and assignment questions are nearly identical to what you will find on the midterms/exam so if you can do those then you will be more than ready for them. If you find you are struggling then its best to attend those tutorials since they help you with the assignments quite a bit.

Howlader = horrible prof. Couldn't understand what he was talking about. Used powerpoint and just scribbled stuff on the slides (used his tablet pc to write on the slides). Doesnt understand the word bonus. He told us one question on the assignment was bonus since we didnt cover it but then marked it as if both questions were manditory. Always accused people of not going to lecture even if you sit right in front of him. The list goes on and on...

Hey Ryan, I notice you still hate our prof. Come on, give the guy a break...

This is bill

Bill, Unlike you, i dont think he's funny

can you take this course without math 2z03 and 2zz3?

Originally Posted by kurrykid101

can you take this course without math 2z03 and 2zz3?

http://registrar.mcmaster.ca /CALEN...nt/pg1782.html

Prerequisite(s):
PHYSICS 1E03; MATH 2Z03, 2ZZ3; registration in either MATH 2M06 (or 2M03 and 2MM3) or both MATH 2P04 and 2Q04

Not unless you manage to get a waiver :\

Yes you can take this course without Math 2Z03/2ZZ3.
The prerequisites are listed as Physics 1E03; Math 2Z03, 2ZZ3...

The ';' between Physics 1E03 and the Math courses means OR, so as long as you completed Physics 1E03, OR the two second year math courses, you may take this course without a waiver.