MM 103

Engineering Mechanics
COURSE OUTLINE

1. SEMESTER/YEAR: Semester 2, 2020

2. MODE OF DELIVERY/LOCATION: Face to Face, Laucala Only

3. PRE-REQUISITES: MA111 and PH 102

4. COURSE CO-ORDINATOR: Mr. Jai Goundar

5. TEACHING TEAM

Name: Mr. Jai Goundar Name: Dr. Farid Nasrekani

Office: 003-037 Office: 003-036
Phone: 3232875 Phone: TBA
Email: goundar_j@usp.ac.fj Email: farid.nasrekani@usp.ac.fj
Consultation Hours: TBA Consultation Hours: TBA

6. LECTURE TIMES & VENUE

Day Time Venue

Monday 8-9 am 092-001

Tuesday 3-4 pm 018-001

Wednesday 8-9 am 092-001

Thursday 4-5 pm 092-003

7. EMERGENCY CONTACT

Name: Dr. Mansour Assaf

Phone: 323593
Email: mansour.assaf@usp.ac.fj

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8. COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course aims at equipping students with the knowledge and practical skills needed for
solving every day engineering problems. It first reviews the concept of forces and vectors that
were introduced to the students in an earlier engineering and/or physics course. The course
then covers topics in Statics which include force systems on rigid bodies, distributed forces,
analysis of structures, forces in beams and cables along with friction.

9. COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES

On successful completion of this course, students should be able to:

Course Learning Outcome IPENZ LO

Apply the knowledge and practical skills needed WA1 (B)

for solving well defined engineering problems.

Solve problems on forces and reactions in WA1 (B) and WA2 (B)
different machine components using the
conditions of equilibrium.
Complete a prescribed mini project and prepare WA10 (B)
the poster.

10. USP GRADUATE OUTCOMES

The USP graduate outcomes are as follows:

1. Communication: Graduates will be able to communicate ideas clearly and

persuasively in structured formats using language and other modes of communication
that are appropriate for context, audience and specific disciplinary conventions.
2. Creativity: Graduates will extend boundaries of current knowledge in a particular
discipline or profession.
3. Critical thinking and quantitative reasoning: Graduates will be able to evaluate
multiple perspectives and arrive at a reasonable independent judgement based on
evidence.
4. Ethics: Graduates will demonstrate a commitment to high ethical standards in
scholarly, professional and socio-cultural practices.
5. Pacific consciousness: Graduates will recognize the cultural heritage and diversity of
Pacific societies for sustainable development in a contemporary environment.
6. Professionalism: Graduates will demonstrate the ability to carry out tasks to
acceptable standards within their profession and occupations.
7. Teamwork: Graduates will work together in a respectful and collaborative manner to
complete tasks within teams to achieve an outcome.

MM103 Course Outline – Semester I – 2020 Page 2

11. COURSE CONTENT

TOPIC Weeks
1 Introduction – mechanics, fundamental concepts and 1
principles, systems of units, conversion from one system of
units to another, method of problem solution, and numerical
accuracy.
2 Statics of particles – resultant of two forces, vectors, 2-3
addition of vectors, resultant of several concurrent forces,
resolution of forces into components, rectangular
components of a force, addition of forces by summing
rectangular components, equilibrium of a particle, Newton’s
first law of motion, free-body diagrams, rectangular
components of a force in space, and equilibrium of a particle
in space.
3 Rigid bodies: equivalent systems of forces – external and 4-5
internal forces, principle of transmissibility, moment of a
force about a point, Varigon’s theorem, moment of a force
about an axis, moment of a couple, equivalent force-couple
systems, and equivalent systems of forces.
4 Equilibrium of rigid bodies – free body diagrams, reactions 6-7
on 2D support structures, equilibrium of 2D rigid bodies,
reactions on 3D support structures, and equilibrium of 3D
rigid bodies.
5 Centroids and centers of gravity – center of gravity of a 2D 8-9
body, centroids of areas and lines, first moments of lines and
areas, composite plates and wires, determination of centroids
by integration, theorems of Pappus-Guldinus, distributed
loads on beams, center of gravity of a 3D body, centroid of a
volume, and composite bodies.
6 Analysis of structures and frames – trusses, analysis of 10-11
trusses by method of joints, analysis of trusses by method of
sections, structures containing multiforce members, and
analysis of a frame.
7 Forces in beams and cables – internal forces in members, 12-13
various types of loading and support, shear and bending
moment in a beam, shear and bending moment diagrams,
relations among load, shear, and bending moment, cables
with distributed and concentrated loads, and parabolic cables.
8 Friction – laws of friction, angles of friction, wedges, and 13-14
square threaded screws, journal bearings, thrust bearings,
wheel friction, and belt friction.

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12. PRESCRIBED TEXT AND OTHER RESOURCES

Prescribed Texts:
1. Beer, F., Johnston, R. and Eisenberg, E. 2013, Vector Mechanics for Engineers
(Statics), 10th Edition in SI units, McGraw Hill

Reference and Supplementary Texts:

1. Meriam, J. L. and Kraige, L. G. 2008, Engineering Mechanics (Statics), 6th Edition in

SI units, John Wiley & Sons

There are some other books in the library in the area of engineering mechanics which
you can refer for additional reading.

13. ALIGNMENT OF LEARNING OUTCOMES, ACTIVITIES AND ASSESSMENT

The following table demonstrates the alignment of the course learning outcomes to
appropriate activities and assessments and the links to programme and USP graduate
outcomes.
Course Learning Associated Assessment Program USP Graduate
Outcome Teaching and me Outcomes
Learning Activities Outcomes

Apply the knowledge Attend and answer Tests, exams, WA1 (B), Communication,
Critical thinking
and practical skills the relevant and quizzes. and quantitative
reasoning
needed for solving questions in lectures,
well defined and quizzes.
engineering problems.
Solve problems on Lecture example, Lecture WA1 (B), Communication,
and Teamwork.
forces and reactions tutorial exercises, example, WA2 (B)
in different machine and laboratory work. tutorial
components using the exercises, and
conditions of laboratory
equilibrium. work.
Complete a Mini project. Project WA10 (B) Communication,
Critical thinking
prescribed mini poster. and quantitative
reasoning,
project and prepare Creativity, and
the poster. Teamwork.

MM103 Course Outline – Semester I – 2020 Page 4

14. ASSESSMENT

14.1 ASSESSMENT PORTFOLIO

TYPE OF ASSESSMENT WEIGHT Comments/Rationale LEARNING

OUTCOME
CONTINUOUS ASSESSMENT - 50%
Random quizzes in lectures 1 and 2
where problem solving type
Quizzes 6%
question will be given, from
chapters 2 – 8.
A mini-project will be given, 3
a theory based project, can
Mini Project 10%
be completed through
literature survey.
A total of 8 labs, 1 lab per 1 and 2
week starting from week 2.
Labs 16% The lab experimentation and
write up should be finished
within the allocated 3 hrs.
Short test 1 will be for 1 and 2
Short Tests 1 9% 1hour, will be given during
lecture time.
Short test 2 will be for 1 and 2
Short Tests 2 9% 1hour, will be given during
lecture time.
FINAL EXAMINATION - 50%
A summative assessment 1 and 2
mostly on the application of
Final Exam 50% concepts taught during the
semester. The duration of
the exam will be 3 hrs.

14.2 PASSING THE UNIT

In order to be awarded a pass in this unit, students must:

 Attend at least 75% of the labs.
 Attend at least 60% of TUTORIALS!
 Achieve an overall mark of at least 50% in the course.
 Achieve at least 40% (20/50) in the final exam.
 If you DO NOT comply with these criteria you are automatically deemed to have
failed the course although you will be allowed to attempt all assessments. 

14.3 GRADE DISTRIBUTION

A+ A B+ B C+ C D E
85-100 78-84 71-77 64-70 57-63 50-56 40-49 0-39

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 14.4 ASSESSMENT POLICIES AND REGULATIONS

For detailed regulations, please refer to the USP Handbook and Calendar.

Rationale
Assessment is an integral part of the learning/teaching process. It is a means by which an
individual’s progress is measured.

Purposes
 To meet the assessment requirements of the University of the South Pacific
 To compare between an individual’s performance and be able to use the results to
compare between their past and present achievements
 To provide an effective means of formative and summative evaluations

Guidelines

i) Students should be aware of their assessment requirements each semester. A detailed

outline would be distributed to all students at the beginning of the semester. The outline
will have:
 The total number of assessments
 The proposed dates/deadlines
 The nature of the assessments – short tests, assignments, etc

ii) Majority of assessment tasks are common every semester with incorporation of essential
innovations.

iii) Special equivalent assessment to be carried out only on satisfactory reasons of absence,
which may include:
 Major illnesses support by a medical certificate. The validity of the medical certificate
may be required.
 Student’s attendance to an official business
 Timetable clashes
 If absence is not covered by an acceptable reason, a result of ZERO will be
recorded for that assessment.

iv) Final examination is moderated by the School moderation committee. Upon

publishing the result, the course coordinator or lecturer are not involved in
reassessment (recount) process. It is handled centrally by the school as per Faculty
regulations.
vii) Plagiarism, copying materials from other sources without proper referencing and
acknowledge of the source is a serious offence and will be dealt with severely. In the
Regulations Governing Academic Misconduct section of the USP Handbook &
Calendar plagiarism is defined as “the copying of another person’s creative work and
using it as one’s own – without explicitly giving credit to the original creator. Work
copied without acknowledgement from a book, from another student’s work, from the
internet or from any other source”. If lecturer is satisfied that plagiarism has occurred
they will report the matter to the Head of School. They can reduce marks
appropriately. If the matter is seen as serious enough it can be taken to the Student
Disciplinary Committee by the Head of School.

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Students may appeal the mark awarded for any piece if work and must do so within a week of
receiving the mark. The changes can only be done by the course co-ordinator.

Plagiarism, copying materials from other sources without proper referencing and
acknowledge of the source is a serious offence and will be dealt with severely. In the
Regulations Governing Academic Misconduct section of the USP Handbook & Calendar
plagiarism is defined as “the copying of another person’s creative work and using it as
one’s own – without explicitly giving credit to the original creator. Work copied without
acknowledgement from a book, from another student’s work, from the internet or from any
other source”. If lecturer is satisfied that plagiarism has occurred, they will report the
matter to the Head of School. They can reduce marks appropriately. If the matter is seen as
serious enough it can be taken to the Student Disciplinary Committee by the Head of
School.

15. IMPORTANT DATES

Activity Week Weighting (%)

Test 1 7 9%
Test 2 12 9%

16. ADDITIONAL COURSE ATTENDANCE

16.1 TUTORIALS
Compulsory to attend one hour tutorial session/week; tutorial sign up will be available on
moodle.

16.2 LABORATORY SESSIONS

Compulsory to attend 3 hour Lab session/week; Lab sign up will be available on moodle.

17. STUDENT SUPPORT

17.1 ONLINE HELP & e-Learning INFORMATION

e-Learning
All course materials that will be made available on Moodle, students are encouraged to
print out notes well before time and read through it at least once so that it makes sense
once lectures a delivered.
All information and material will be provided on Moodle share for MM103 in the
website: http://elearn.usp.ac.fj. You may login using your SOLS username and
password.
Students may either call in personally or seek help via email. Any student seeking help
relating to the course via email should include the following:
EMAIL HELP
From: <a valid student ID to be used> (Reason: When we send it to outside mail,
spammers can get hold of our address to send us junk mail and it is very time involving to
scan through all emails)
Subject: <MM103 (F) – xxxxxxx> (This is to ensure that mail filters in my mail client is

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 able to filter it to the MM103 course folder & I can give priority to your mail. Note we
receive almost 20+ USP related emails apart from student & personal emails!!)
Message Body: write concisely what you need to be clarified. Also include your name at
the end. It is an uncourteous gesture not to include the senders name.

17.2 FACULTY STUDENT LEARNING SUPPORT (SLS) SERVICES

FSTE Student Learning Specialists provide you with professional assistance for successful
study and help you develop as an independent active learner. Student Learning Support
services are provided at the Hub. The student support staff will:

 respond to your email requests through fstetutorsupport@usp.ac.fj.

 help you to adapt to the new environment and expectations of students at the USP.
 have one-to-one consultations with you to discuss any challenges that you may be
facing in your studies.
 connect you to mentors (study buddies) who will guide you and facilitate group
discussions with other students in your courses.
 conduct special workshops to upskill and equip you for your assessments and
examinations.( e.g. Literature Review, Report Writing, Presentation Skills, etc.) NB
Check your student webmail for advertisements.
 help you unpack and understand your assignments and tutorial questions.
 assist you with English language and mathematics basic skills.
 provide specific assistance for students with disability.
 assist students who have left school for some years (mature students).
 assist students who are not performing up to par.

ALL FSTE SLS SERVICES ARE FREE OF CHARGE

More details about the FSTE Student Learning Support can be found at:
Website: http://www.usp.ac.fj/index.php?id=10950
Moodle: FSTE Student Learning Support

18. EXPECTATIONS OF STUDENTS

18.1 STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES

Students are expected to:

 Print and READ the course notes from moodle shell well before the lecture is
scheduled to be delivered.
 Attend all lecturers, tutorials and laboratory unless hampered by illness.
 Carry out assignments individually unless otherwise stipulated within or by the
lecturer in the class.
 Carry out any research required for laboratory and come prepared in the lab on time
with relevant literature to carry out experiments.
 Maintain proper attire for the laboratory, clothing, shoes etc.
 Facilitate the course coordinator with any proof that he/she was sick and unable to
attend classes or assessment at the earliest possible time to avoid getting a zero mark
for the missed assessment.

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  Report any damages to the equipment immediately to the technician and laboratory
demonstrator.
 Be responsible for any damages of USP property due to negligence. (Negligence will
be assessed by the Chief Technician(s) and the Division Coordinator(s).
 Follow all guidelines stipulated in the School’s OHS regulations. (Guidelines will be
provided
 during the first lab session.

18.2 AT-RISK STUDENTS


Extra Help Sessions must be taken in addition to regular tutorials, and a minimum attendance
of 60% in these sessions is required to pass the course. Students who qualify for Extra Help
Sessions will be notified by the Course Coordinator prior to the 3rd week of the semester.
The purpose of these sessions is to provide students who have struggled in the past (“C“grade
or less in prerequisite courses) by providing additional contact with teaching staff to help
them succeed in the course. The type of extra help offered in these sessions is determined by
the Course Coordinator. Qualifying students will be identified by the Faculty. Based on
student marks at mid-semester, the Course Coordinator may require struggling students to
attend Extra Help Sessions during the second half of the semester. These sessions can include
extra tutorials, workshops, peer mentoring, etc.

18.3 STUDENT WORKLOAD

Type Workload hrs Comments

Lecture participation 4 x 14 = 56 Four lectures per week also includes

allocated for short tests and quizzes

Tutorial participation 1 x 12 = 12 Mostly group discussions on questions from

tutorial sheets given a week prior to the
session. This is to encourage students to
solve tutorial problems and to provide an
opportunity for students to attempt some
challenging problems.

Tutorial preparation 2 x 12 = 24 Students are required to attempt the tutorials

before the tutorial class

Quiz – Participation 0 Included in lecture participation

Quiz Preparation 2 x 6 = 12 About 1 hour to prepare for the quiz

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 Short-tests preparation 6 x 2 = 12 About 6 hour to prepare for the short test

Short-tests Included in
participation lecture
participation

Laboratory 3 x 8 = 24 Three hour lab session/week

Laboratory 2 x 8 = 16 One an hour per lab/session

Preparation

Mini - Project 12 About 12 hours to complete mini project

Final Exam 10 + study week

preparation

Final Exam 3 Conducted in the exam week

participation

Library & online 15 If they need extra information on some

research concepts

Total 196

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