Overview

This unit aims to provide students with an introduction to the physics of energy and motion emphasising their applications and importance in aviation and science.

Requisites

Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Pathways Teaching 3
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
20-October-2025
30-January-2026
Last self-enrolment date
02-November-2025
Census date
14-November-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
12-December-2025
Results released date
10-February-2026
Pathways Teaching 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
22-June-2026
25-September-2026
Last self-enrolment date
05-July-2026
Census date
21-July-2026
Last withdraw without fail date
11-August-2026
Results released date
06-October-2026
Pathways Teaching 3
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
19-October-2026
29-January-2027
Last self-enrolment date
01-November-2026
Census date
17-November-2026
Last withdraw without fail date
15-December-2026
Results released date
09-February-2027

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
  • Discuss the basic principles underlying the physics of energy and motion using both written and oral communication
  • Apply the principles of energy and motion to solve conceptual and numerical problems in simple systems, and to understand real-world phenomena
  • Safely execute experiments, analyse and interpret results and errors, and formulate conclusions as part of a team
  • Generate high quality individual reports

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		 2.00  12 weeks  24
On-campus
Class 2		 2.00  6 weeks  12
On-campus
Practical		 2.00  6 weeks  12
Unspecified Activities
Independent Learning		 6.50  12 weeks  78
TOTAL     150

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
ExaminationIndividual 25 - 45% 1,2,3 
Laboratory ReportIndividual 20 - 30% 1,2,3,4,5 
Online AssignmentIndividual 15 - 25% 1,2,3 
TestIndividual 20 - 30% 1,2,3 

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 
  • Electricity: Electric charge and fields, current voltage and resistance, Kirchhoff’s laws, Capacitance

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.