Below are brief assessment details. Further information can be found in the Canvas site for this unit.

• Assignments

There are two assignments, each consisting of several questions. The assignments are designed to help you develop problem-solving skills, practice written answers and obtain some progressive feedback. 

We encourage students to discuss assignments, but we will NOT accept assignments that are simply copied between students or from any other source. You should write your final answers independently, expressing the answers in your own words and with your own working. Allowing your work to be copied is unfair to other students and ultimately, does not help the student copying from your work.

AI systems like ChatGPT may seem to be an easy way of generating text that can be presented as your own in an Assignment.  It is academically dishonest to use such AI systems and seek to present this as your own work.  However, it may be useful to use AI to collect information about a topic as a first step towards writing your own answer, much as you might use Wikipedia. 

The problem-based assignments typical of this unit are different to more essay-based assignments in other disciplines. References are generally NOT necessary unless you use a direct quote from a source. If you do reference a source, choose any style of referencing you normally use providing it is clear.

The Assignments contribute 20% directly to your final mark.

• Pre-lecture Quizzes

Pre-lecture quizzes will consist of several questions delivered on-line using the Canvas system. They are intended to encourage you to prepare for lectures by reading the textbook and any notes we supply and test your understanding of material to be covered in the lectures in the coming week. Answers will be apparent from the relevant sections of the reading. You do not need to get every answer right, but only a serious attempt at a quiz will be regarded as satisfactory completion of the quiz. 

The Pre-lecture quizzes contribute 5% directly to your final mark.

• Workshop Tutorials

Workshop Tutorials are an important part of success in this Unit of Study because they make you think through the material and provide experience in answering the style of questions that may appear in the Final Exam.

Workshop Tutorials are not assessed and do not contribute to your final mark.

• Studio Lab Sessions

Assessment in the studio lab sessions is based on successful completion of experimental and simulation tasks and other activities conducted in the sessions. You are awarded marks for satisfactorily completing each activity and and submitting the results.

The Studio Lab submissions contribute 25% directly to your final mark.

• Final Examination

A two-hour examination covering the material included in the unit of study is held at the end of the semester. You will be asked to write descriptive answers to questions, to explain physical principles and to answer quantitative questions, all aimed at demonstrating your progress in achieving the goals of the unit. An ability to memorise formulae and manipulate them without understanding the associated concepts will not be rewarded. The final exam will cover material from the entire unit.

See the Sample Exam papers in the Canvas pages for this unit for an accurate indication of the exam structure.

The Final Examination contributes 50% directly to your final mark.

Note that attempting the final examination is required for a pass in this unit.

If you miss the final exam for any reason you should submit an application for Special Consideration to request a replacement exam in the same format.

If a second replacement exam is required, this exam may be delivered via an alternative assessment method, such as a viva voce (oral exam). The alternative assessment will meet the same learning outcomes as the original exam. The format of the alternative assessment will be determined by the unit coordinator.