• University of New South Wales

Through Engineers' Eyes - Expanding the Vision: Engineering Mechanics by Experiment, Analysis and Design

Extend the basic techniques of engineering mechanics to a range of situations; interpret experiments and apply them to design.

1,102 enrolled on this course

An engineer in hard hat, overlaid by technical drawings
  • Duration

    4 weeks
  • Weekly study

    4 hours

How can you ensure that your design will perform well and be safe?

In this course, you will learn analytical skills, use them to understand experiments and apply them in design. You will be living in the engineer’s world.

Following on from our companion course Through Engineers’ Eyes: Introducing the Vision, the emphasis in this course is on application of basic engineering mechanics. You will find centres of gravity by experiments on model gliders, learn about friction as you apply it to designing a belt drive, and analyse car performance using concepts of work, energy and power.

Skip to 0 minutes and 10 seconds Before the first rivet was hammered, they knew that this bridge could take the load. Well before the very first takeoff run, they knew that this aircraft would fly. When you design anything, how do you know beforehand that it will work? Livelihoods depend on it. Lives do too. It’s an awesome responsibility. To meet it, you need to look at the world through engineers’ eyes. And to get engineers’ eyes, you need engineering mechanics. Engineering mechanics starts with physics– forces, equilibrium, acceleration, gravity. This helps you to understand the world. That’s Classical Mechanics. Engineers developed their own version to help them change the world, to help them design. That’s Engineering Mechanics. But for engineers, it’s more than that.

Skip to 1 minute and 11 seconds Engineering Mechanics is built into their souls. It colours everything they see around them. When they look at the bridge, they think forces and bending motion. They feel stresses and strains. When they see an aeroplane fly, they visualise the lift forces that defy gravity. With just a little mathematics, in this course you’ll learn some basic engineering mechanics. You’ll learn by experiments, analysis, and design. And you’ll start to see the world through engineers’ eyes. But be prepared. Once you’ve opened your engineers’ eyes, there’s no going back. Get ready for a life-changing experience.

What topics will you cover?

  • Week 1: Gravity, finding centres of gravity
  • Week 2: Basic models of dry friction (Static and Kinetic), sliding/tipping, rope around bollard
  • Week 3: Resistance to motion, rolling friction, aerodynamic friction, work/energy/power
  • Week 4: Impulse-momentum, projectile motion

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Investigate centres of gravity, friction and various types of resistance
  • Explore the concepts of work, energy and power
  • Apply these capabilities to design

Who is the course for?

The course is for anyone interested in engineering mechanics.

What software or tools do you need?

Participants will need to have basic mathematical skills and access to a scientific calculator.

Who will you learn with?

Gangadhara is a Professor in the School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering at UNSW Australia and has received multiple teaching excellence awards, including Australian Awards for Teaching.

I am a retired Associate Professor from the School of Mechanical and Manufacturing, UNSW Australia and hold several teaching awards. I like to look for new ways of presenting Engineering Mechanics.

Who developed the course?

UNSW Sydney

Established in 1949 with a unique focus on the scientific, technological and professional disciplines, UNSW is a leading Australian university committed to making a difference

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

  • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
  • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

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