Course Title: Mechanics and Thermodynamics

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Mechanics and Thermodynamics

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

PHYS1046

City Campus

Undergraduate

135H Applied Sciences

Face-to-Face

 Sem 1 2006,
Sem 1 2007,
Sem 1 2008,
Sem 1 2009,
Sem 1 2010

PHYS1046

City Campus

Undergraduate

171H School of Science

Face-to-Face

 Sem 2 2023,
Sem 2 2024

Course Coordinator: Jackson Smith

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925

Course Coordinator Email: jackson.smith@rmit.edu.au


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

Assumed Knowledge

You will need to either have completed or, at the same time, be enrolled in a first-year undergraduate course in calculus (or equivalent). Contact your course coordinator for more information.


Course Description

Mechanics and thermodynamnics are two branches of classical physics that provide a mathematical framework for understanding how the universe works at length scales familiar from everyday life. However, the applicability of these frameworks also extend beyond our personal experience, from atomic theory to space science. This first-year course establishes the necessary foundations for your future studies in physics. In it you will be introduced to physical quantities, conservation laws, and laws of motion and thermodynamics that form the basis of models for the natural world. You will learn about the importance of these frameworks as well as their limitations, and apply the knowledge you’ve gained to test each framework’s validity through experimentation.


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

Program Learning Outcomes

This course contributes to the program learning outcomes for the following programs: 

BP350, BP330

For more information on the program learning outcomes for your program, please see the program guide.  


Upon successful completion of this course, you should be able to:

  1. Explain basic concepts from classical mechanics and thermodynamics.
  2. Apply knowledge from classical mechanics and thermodynamics to describe the behaviour of physical systems.
  3. Apply knowledge from classical mechanics and thermodynamics to solve elementary problems in these fields.
  4. Demonstrate the ability to communicate scientific facts effectively using appropriate mathematical notation and scientific conventions. 
  5. Demonstrate the ability to perform experiments, collect and analyse data, and report scientific results as the member of a team.


Overview of Learning Activities

You will be actively engaged in a range of learning activities such as lectorials, tutorials, practicals, laboratories, seminars, project work, class discussion, individual and group activities. Delivery may be face to face, online or a mix of both. 

Students will learn in this course by:
• attendance at lectures where material will be presented and explained, and the subject will be illustrated with demonstrations and examples;
• private study, working through the theory as presented in lectures, texts and notes, and gaining practice at solving conceptual and numerical problems;
• completing tutorial questions designed to give further practice in application of theory, and to give feedback on student progress and understanding;
• completing written assignments consisting of numerical and other problems requiring an integrated understanding of the subject matter;
• undertaking a number of laboratory experiments, keeping a journal of their work and writing a report, or doing a test, on an experiment.
• Formative assessment, including Weblearn tests.

You are encouraged to be proactive and self-directed in your learning, asking questions of your lecturer and/or peers and seeking out information as required, especially from the numerous sources available through the RMIT library, and through links and material specific to this course that is available through myRMIT Studies Course


Overview of Learning Resources

RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through myRMIT Studies Course. 

There are services available to support your learning through the University Library. The Library provides guides on academic referencing and subject specialist help as well as a range of study support services. For further information, please visit the Library page on the RMIT University website and the myRMIT student portal.


Overview of Assessment

Assessment Tasks

Assessment item 1: Written assignments (2)

Weighting 15%

This assessment task supports  CLO 1-4.

Assessment item 2: Weekly problem solving activities (12)

Weighing 10%

This assessment supports CLOs 2, 3 & 4

Assessment item 3: Laboratory reports (3)

Weighting 25%

This assessment supports CLOs 2-5.

Assessment item 4: Invigilated tests (2)

Weighting 50%

This assessment supports CLO 1-4.

If you have a long term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or Equitable Learning Services if you would like to find out more.