SEB101 - Engineering Physics
Unit details
| Year | 2026 unit information |
|---|---|
| Enrolment modes: | Trimester 1: Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong), Online Trimester 3: Online |
| Credit point(s): | 1 |
| EFTSL value: | 0.125 |
| Assumed Knowledge: | This unit assumes either prior or concurrent knowledge of either VCE Mathematical Methods (or equivalent) or SIT190 |
| Unit Chair: | Trimester 1: John Long Trimester 3: John Long |
| Prerequisite: | Nil |
| Corequisite: | Nil |
| Incompatible with: | SEP101 |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - on-campus unit enrolment: | 1 x 2 hour seminar per week, 5 x 3 hour practical experience (laboratories) per trimester. |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - online unit enrolment: | Online independent and collaborative learning including 1 x 1.5 hour seminar per week and 2 at home practicals and 3 on campus practicals per trimester. Students are required to attend and participate in practical experiences (laboratories) at the Waurn Ponds (Geelong) Campus during the trimester intensive activities as detailed in the unit site. |
| Typical study commitment: | Students will on average spend 150 hours over the teaching period undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit. |
Content
The unit will commence with a calculus treatment of kinematics of motion in one, two and three dimensions, including parabolic motion. The application of Newton's laws to a wide variety of phenomena will be investigated and the concepts of work, energy and the conservation laws discussed. Rotational kinematics and dynamics will be introduced, including the concepts of moment of inertia and torque. Also introduced are electrical concepts of charge, field, voltage and circuits. Other topics to be covered include vectors, statics, centre of mass and oscillations.
Learning outcomes
| ULO | These are the Unit Learning Outcomes (ULOs) for this unit. At the completion of this unit, successful students can: | Alignment to Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes (GLOs) |
|---|---|---|
| ULO1 | Explain basic principles in physical mechanics, dynamics, electric fields and circuits. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
| ULO2 | Apply these principles to natural phenomena. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
| ULO3 | Solve technical problems in basic mechanics, dynamics and electricity. | GLO4: Critical thinking |
| ULO4 | Perform and report on basic physical measurements. | GLO2: Communication |
| ULO5 | Employ experimental methodology. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
Assessment
| Assessment Description | Student output | Grading and weighting (% total mark for unit) | Indicative due week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment 1 | Each practical experiment is to be written up in a lab notebook/diary write-up (5 entries) and will include: aim, introduction/background, experimental method, results, discussion, and a conclusion. | 50% (5 x 10%) | Following practicals as detailed in the unit site |
| Assessment 2 | Written responses to questions/problems | 20% (2 x 10%) | Weeks 5 and 9 |
| End-of-Unit Assessment | 2-hour online timed assessment | 30% | End-of-Unit Assessment period |
The assessment due weeks provided may change. The Unit Chair will clarify the exact assessment requirements, including the due date, at the start of the teaching period.
Hurdle requirement
To be eligible for a pass in this unit, students must achieve a minimum of 40% in the End-of-Unit Assessment.
Learning resource
The texts and reading list for SEB101 can be found via the University Library.
Note: Select the relevant trimester reading list. Please note that a future teaching period's reading list may not be available until a month prior to the start of that teaching period so you may wish to use the relevant trimester's prior year reading list as a guide only.
Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)
To fully engage with Deakin's learning experiences, students must be able to access and use internet-connected devices as outlined in computing requirements at Deakin.
To support student success at Deakin, we have a bring-your-own-device (BYOD) learning environment that acknowledges that students and educators bring with them the digital tools they regularly use to complete academic tasks. These tools stay with you beyond the classroom, helping you to keep learning, explore ideas more deeply, and connect with knowledge in ways that matter to you.
Students requiring a loan device should visit our Loan Laptop webpage or students requiring longer-term assistance should visit our Student Financial Assistance webpage.
Unit Fee Information
Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study and their study discipline, and your study load.
Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current Students website.