Energy and Motion
Overview
This unit of study aims to provide you with an introduction to the physics of energy and motion emphasising their applications and importance for further studies in engineering or physics.
Requisites
01-June-2025
02-November-2025
Learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
- Identify the symbols and units for a wide range of physical quantities, and describe their definitions (K1)
- Discuss the basic principles underlying the physics of energy and motion using both written and oral communication (K1, K2, A2)
- Apply the principles of energy and motion to solve conceptual and numerical problems in simple systems, and to understand real-world phenomena (K1, K2, S2)
- Safely execute experiments, analyse and interpret results and errors, and formulate conclusions as part of a team (K1, K2, S1, A7)
- Generate high quality individual reports (K1, K2, S1, A2)
Teaching methods
Hawthorn
| Type | Hours per week | Number of weeks | Total (number of hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| On-campus Lecture | 2.00 | 12 weeks | 24 |
| On-campus Class | 1.00 | 12 weeks | 12 |
| On-campus Lab | 2.00 | 5 weeks | 10 |
| Specified Activities Various | 1.00 | 12 weeks | 12 |
| Unspecified Activities Independent Learning | 7.67 | 12 weeks | 92 |
| TOTAL | 150 |
Assessment
| Type | Task | Weighting | ULO's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assignment | Individual/Group | 15 - 25% | 1,2,3 |
| Examination | Individual | 50 - 60% | 1,2,3 |
| Laboratory Report | Individual | 15 - 25% | 1,2,3,4,5 |
Hurdle
As the minimum requirements of assessment to pass a unit and meet all ULOs to a minimum standard, an undergraduate student must have achieved:
(i) An aggregate mark of 50% or more, and(ii) Obtain at least 40% in the final exam, and(iii) Obtain at least 40% of the possible marks for the laboratory hurdle.Students who do not successfully achieve hurdle requirements (ii) and (iii) will receive a maximum of 45% as the total mark for the unit.
Content
- Linear Mechanics: kinematics, Newton’s law, momentum, energy and work
- Rotational Mechanics: uniform circular motion
- Fluid Mechanics: buoyancy; Pascal's law; Bernoulli's principle
- Thermodynamics: heat transfer and expansion; kinetic theory
- Vibrations and Waves: simple harmonic motion, resonance and dampening
Study resources
Reading materials
A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.