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Didactic Concept
The traditional approach to study transmission processes on a double line is based on the closed solution of Maxwell´s equations in form of sinosoids.
Starting with sine waves to derive the wave equations und finally through Fourier transformation the transition of pulses is mathematically elegant. This approach, however, poses quite a challenge to many students which often is too large to be mastered.
The numerical methods, applied within TL to solve the telegraph equations, avoid the necessity to start with sinosoids, but rather allows to start with the transition of single pulses and their behaviour during reflection and superposition. Later the term impedance can be introduced before regular square pulses and finally sine waves are covered.
As extension Tl offers the possibility to simulate and display either a simple serial circuit or a simple parallel circuit. This allows to include transition processes in the treatment of the so-called simple electric circuit, which is usually reduced to a set of stationary states, ruled by Ohm´s law and Kirchhoff´s rules but with no causal connection.
A corresponding tutorial is available. The informal feedback received after numerous tryouts is rather promissing so that an added value can be expected in respect to improved learning results and in comparision with the traditional approach.
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