ENGGEN 121 : Engineering Mechanics

Engineering

2025 Semester One (1253) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

An introduction to planar mechanics including: free body diagrams, planar equilibrium of rigid bodies, friction, distributed forces, internal forces, shear force and bending moment diagrams, kinematics and kinetics of particles, work and energy, relative motion, kinematics and kinetics of rigid bodies.

Course Overview

The course is split into two main parts: Statics and Dynamics. Statics will focus on analysing the forces on objects and structures that are at equilibrium. Dynamics will focus on analysing the forces and resulting motion of objects that are, in general, out of equilibrium (i.e. accelerating). 

Short Topic Summary
Statics
  • Force systems in two dimensions: components, moments and resultants
  • Equilibrium in two dimensions
  • Structures: plane trusses, beams, reactions, internal forces (shear force, bending moments)
  • Distributed forces
  • Friction
Dynamics
  • Kinematics of particles: rectilinear motion, curvilinear motion, coordinate systems
  • Kinetics of particles, friction, pulleys
  • Kinematics of rigid bodies in the plane: pure translation, rotation about a fixed axis, relative motion, and general motion
  • Kinetics of rigid bodies in the plane
  • Work and energy methods for particles

Course Requirements

Restriction: CIVIL 210, MECHENG 222

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Interpret written engineering problems to identify the relevant mechanics concepts that apply. (Capability 3.1)
  2. Construct diagrams to demonstrate understanding of a problem, including: shear force and bending moment diagrams, velocity diagrams, and free body diagrams. (Capability 3.1 and 3.2)
  3. Apply Newton’s laws of motion and energy principles to planar systems and solve for forces, moments, and acceleration. (Capability 3.1 and 3.2)
  4. Demonstrate a clear and logical problem solving process with consistent notation and sign conventions. (Capability 3.1 and 3.2)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Final Exam 40% Individual Examination
Tests 40% Individual Test
Quizzes 15% Individual Coursework
Peer Assessments 5% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4
Final Exam
Tests
Quizzes
Peer Assessments

Notes:

  1. A passing mark is 50% or higher, according to University policy. 
  2. Students must sit the exam to pass the course. Otherwise, a DNS (did not sit) result will be returned.
  3. Late submissions are not allowed for the Quizzes, Tests, and the Final Exam. 
  4. Late submission penalties will be applied for Peer Assessments. The penalties will be listed on Canvas. 

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For each week in this course, you can expect 3 hours of lectures, a 1 hour tutorial, 6 hours of self study (reading and thinking about the content and working on assignments and/or test preparation).

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Lectures: 

Three 1-hour sessions per week. Lectures are recorded where possible. The course will not include live online events. Lecture attendance is highly recommended but not compulsory. 

Tutorials: 

One 1-hour session per week starting in week 1 of the semester. Check SSO for the exact time and room. Tutorials will not be recorded. Tutorial attendance is highly recommended. In certain weeks, students will get hands-on with demonstration equipment.  

Tests:

Attendance on campus is required for the tests.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

No prescribed textbook. All necessary learning resources, including the course book, will be provided digitally on Canvas. A printed course book will be available for purchase from Ubiq. 

Health & Safety

Students must ensure they are familiar with their Health and Safety responsibilities, as described in the university's Health and Safety policy.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Based on the 2024 SET survey (62.5% participation), the course scored 4.44/5.  Based on student feedback and reflections of the teaching team, the main planned changes for 2025 include:

  1. Reducing the number of assessments and coordinating with other Part I courses to distribute the assessment load.
  2. Use a different tool to run the quizzes. 
  3. Switching to a single lecture stream with overflow.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.