Course Outline
ENG102 Engineering Statics
Course Coordinator:Dariusz Alterman (dalterman@usc.edu.au) School:School of Science, Technology and Engineering
2026Semester 2
UniSC Sunshine CoastUniSC Moreton Bay |
Blended learning | Most of your course is on campus but you may be able to do some components of this course online. |
Please go to unisc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.
What is this course about?
Description
Statics is one of the critical foundations for understanding and progressing in mechanical and civil engineering. It enables you to analyse structural components found in buildings, bridges, machinery and hydraulics. You will learn principles and concepts related to rigid and deformable bodies, and apply these principles to analyse structures under various loads.
How will this course be delivered?
| Activity | Hours | Beginning Week | Frequency |
| Blended learning | |||
| Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Online workshop | 2hrs | Week 1 | 13 times |
| Tutorial/Workshop 2 – On campus practical workshop | 2hrs | Week 1 | 13 times |
| Laboratory 1 – On campus - weeks 3, 6, 9 | 2hrs | Week 3 | 3 times |
Course Topics
- Vectors, particles, and force systems
- External forces on 2D rigid bodies; transmissibility, moment, couples
- 2D free body diagrams and equilibrium of rigid bodies
- Pin properties, pin jointed frames, compound beams
- Qualitative analysis, method of joints, method of sections
- Equilibrium and analysis of pin jointed frame trusses
- Internal forces
- Center of gravity and mass, centroid
- Moment of inertia
- 3D force systems, equilibrium, and analysis
Course topics are subject to change
What level is this course?
100 Level (Introductory)
What is the unit value of this course?
12 units
How does this course contribute to my learning?
| Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... | Graduate Qualities Mapping Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming... | Professional Standard Mapping * Engineers Australia Stage 1 Professional Engineer Competency Standards | |
| 1 | Demonstrate and apply current knowledge of basic sciences, and fundamental engineering statics principles and concepts to structures in engineering design contexts | Knowledgeable |
1.1, 1.2 |
| 2 | Solve engineering statics problems and demonstrate fundamentals statics principles by testing and collecting data and dealing with sources of interference; using free body diagrams to represent structures subjected to various loads; interpreting and analysing these diagrams to calculate the resulting internal forces using established conventions to present sequenced solutions | Creative and critical thinker |
1.3
|
| 3 | Communicate to different audiences in different modes (written, visual and oral) | Empowered |
3.2
|
| 4 | Act professionally by functioning in teams | Ethical |
3.6
|
* Competencies by Professional Body
| CODE | COMPETENCY |
| Engineers Australia Stage 1 Professional Engineer Competency Standards | |
| 1.1 | Knowledge and Skill Base: Comprehensive, theory based understanding of the underpinning natural and physical sciences and the engineering fundamentals applicable to the engineering discipline. |
| 1.2 | Knowledge and Skill Base: Conceptual understanding of the mathematics, numerical analysis, statistics, and computer and information sciences which underpin the engineering discipline. |
| 1.3 | Knowledge and Skill Base: In-depth understanding of specialist bodies of knowledge within the engineering discipline. |
| 3.2 | Professional and Personal Attributes: Effective oral and written communication in professional and lay domains. |
| 3.6 | Professional and Personal Attributes: Effective team membership and team leadership. |
Am I eligible to enrol in this course?
Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.
Pre-requisites
(SCI107 and (MTH103 or MTH102) and enrolled in Program SC404, SC405, SC410, SC411 SC425)
Co-requisites
Not applicable
Anti-requisites
CIV1501(USQ equivalent course)
Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)
Senior Maths C or equivalent is strongly recommended for ENG102. The following knowledge and skills are required throughout the course and must be learned or maintained as required: Construction and interpretation of graphs, Basic analytic geometry, Basic algebraic manipulations including solution of equations, Basic differential and integral calculus, Differentiation of simple functions, Chain rule and product rule for differentiation, Integration of simple functions, Matrix notation, Vector representation and basic operations, Dot product, Cross product, General concepts of space, matter and time, Measurement and SI units, Newton's law of gravitation and, Forces and Newton's laws of motion.
Microcredential Information
Not applicable
How am I going to be assessed?
Grading Scale
Standard Grading (GRD)
| High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL). |
Details of early feedback on progress
Each week throughout semester, students will be able to complete questions before and in tutorials which are similar to the questions they will have in the exam. Solutions to these questions will be discussed in the tutorials are will be available in Canvas. This gives students constant formative feedback on their understanding of the course material and progress during semester.
Assessment tasks
| Delivery mode | Task No. | Assessment Product | Individual or Group | Weighting % | What is the duration / length? | When should I submit? | Where should I submit it? |
| All | 1 | Quiz/zes | Individual | 35% | 1 hour each quiz |
Throughout teaching period (refer to Format) | In Class |
| All | 2 | Report | Group | 25% | 3x 450 to 600 words each excluding diagrams & appendices |
Throughout teaching period (refer to Format) | Assignment Box |
| All | 3 | Examination - Centrally Scheduled | Individual | 40% | 2 hours |
Exam Period | Exam Venue |
| All - Assessment Task 1:Review Quizzes | |||||||||||||||||||
| Goal: | This task has been developed to provide you with clear and thorough examples of the types of problems engineers need to address in statics. You will apply fundamental knowledge of statics principles and concepts to solve problems about structures subjected to loads. |
||||||||||||||||||
| Product: | Quiz/zes | ||||||||||||||||||
| Authorship Statement: | |||||||||||||||||||
| Format: | 4 Quizzes, 60 minutes each, Week 3, 6, 9 and 12 Short answer questions such as: interpreting symbols in free body diagrams labelling diagrams following conventions solving 2D & 3D force systems involving calculations, sketching, etc. analysing structures (beams, frames, 2D and 3D structures) under different loads, requiring drawing a free body diagram to represent the structure, using a sequence of equations to calculate the unknown forces and/or drawing diagrams. Programmable calculators NOT permitted but scientific ones are. The use of mobile phones and tablets is not permitted. The quizzes will be open book, with both notes and textbook allowed |
||||||||||||||||||
| Criteria: |
|
||||||||||||||||||
| Generic Skills: | Problem solving |
||||||||||||||||||
| All - Assessment Task 2:Practical reports | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Goal: | These practical reports will enable you to better understand and master key statics theory and principles that involve rigging, lifting, and fixed structures. Ultimately you will be able to test and collect data to validate theoretical calculations about how structures react to loads. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Product: | Report | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Authorship Statement: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Format: | In groups of 3-5 (depending on the class size), you carry out tests to collect data about how real structures react to different loads, taking account of any sources of interference.In your team you collaborate to write three engineering reports (one on each Practical) as per conventions (see Canvas). Each report is of 450 to 600 words or equivalent (excluding diagrams, calculations and Appendices) and calculations with correct units throughout (scanned copies of pre-practical calculations are acceptable), explain sources of interference. You also include where relevant captioned diagrams, tables of data, graphs, and photographs. Weeks 4, 7 and 10 The names of all team members are to be on the cover page of each report with their signatures and student numbers. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Criteria: |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Generic Skills: | Communication, Collaboration |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| All - Assessment Task 3:Final examination | |||||||||||||||||||
| Goal: | You will demonstrate and apply fundamental knowledge of statics principles and concepts to solve simple problems about structures subjected to loads |
||||||||||||||||||
| Product: | Examination - Centrally Scheduled | ||||||||||||||||||
| Authorship Statement: | |||||||||||||||||||
| Format: | The problems in this exam involve more complex theory and structures, and test all the Course topics. Short answers such as: interpreting symbols in free body diagrams labelling diagrams following conventions solving 2D and 3D force systems, trusses and pin-jointed frame - involves calculations interpreting diagrams of simple structure under different loads, requiring drawing a free body diagram to represent the structure, and using a sequence of equations to calculate the unknown forces calculate and draw internal forces diagram. Programmable calculators NOT permitted but scientific ones are. The use of mobile phones and tablets is not permitted. The examination will be open book, with both notes and text book allowed. |
||||||||||||||||||
| Criteria: |
|
||||||||||||||||||
| Generic Skills: | Problem solving |
||||||||||||||||||
Directed study hours
A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.
What resources do I need to undertake this course?
Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.
Prescribed text(s) or course reader
You need regular access to the resource(s) below. Many texts are available as ebooks through the Library at no additional cost.
| Required? | Author | Year | Title | Edition | Publisher |
| Required | R. C. Hibbeler | 0 | Engineering Mechanics | (14th SI edition, Global) | n/a |
Specific requirements
You must wear closed-in shoes in the laboratory.
How are risks managed in this course?
What administrative information is relevant to this course?
Assessment: Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation. It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline. This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.
Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person. You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.
In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin. This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.
Assessment: Additional Requirements
Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying: The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4% The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale You have not failed an assessment task in the course due to academic misconductAssessment: Submission penalties
Late submission of assessment tasks may be penalised at the following maximum rate: - 5% (of the assessment task's identified value) per day for the first two days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. - 10% (of the assessment task's identified value) for the third day - 20% (of the assessment task's identified value) for the fourth day and subsequent days up to and including seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. - A result of zero is awarded for an assessment task submitted after seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. Weekdays and weekends are included in the calculation of days late. To request an extension you must contact your course coordinator to negotiate an outcome.Links to relevant University policy and procedures
For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:
- Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
- Review of Assessment and Final Grades
- Supplementary Assessment
- Central Examinations
- Deferred Examinations
- Student Conduct
- Students with a Disability
For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching
Student Charter
UniSC is committed to excellence in teaching, research and engagement in an environment that is inclusive, inspiring, safe and respectful. The Student Charter sets out what students can expect from the University, and what in turn is expected of students, to achieve these outcomes.
General Enquiries
- In person:
- UniSC Sunshine Coast - Student Central, Ground Floor, Building C, 90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs
- UniSC Moreton Bay - Service Centre, Ground Floor, Foundation Building, Gympie Road, Petrie
- UniSC SouthBank - Student Central, Building A4 (SW1), 52 Merivale Street, South Brisbane
- UniSC Gympie - Student Central, 71 Cartwright Road, Gympie
- UniSC Fraser Coast - Student Central, Student Central, Building A, 161 Old Maryborough Rd, Hervey Bay
- UniSC Caboolture - Student Central, Level 1 Building J, Cnr Manley and Tallon Street, Caboolture
- Tel:+61 7 5430 2890
- Email:studentcentral@usc.edu.au