Materials science lies at the foundation of today’s world. Most technological advances rely on new materials, such as carbon fibres for aircraft wings, novel semiconductors for self-driving car sensors, or highperformance insulators in ski-wear. This course discusses the properties of materials that engineers need to be aware of. This includes mechanical, thermal, electrical, chemical and optical properties. All these properties are controlled by the microscopic structure of these materials, and this course will cover the quantum mechanics, atomic physics and thermodynamics that control what materials can do. The course will focus on the structure and properties of crystalline materials, and on how these properties can be manipulated to create more capable materials.
This course is a requirement for all Engineering students but will also be of interest to physics and chemistry students.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- Describe the mechanical, electrical, thermal and optical properties of materials;
- Analyse the importance of material properties for a wide variety of engineering situations;
- Evaluate and select suitable materials for different practical applications;
- Recall typical values of the properties of common practical materials;
- Understand the micro-physics and chemistry responsible for material properties, and analyse how they can be modified.
Indicative Assessment
- Weekly assignments (50) [LO 1,2,3,5]
- Final examination (50) [LO 1,2,3,4,5]
In response to COVID-19: Please note that Semester 2 Class Summary information (available under the classes tab) is as up to date as possible. Changes to Class Summaries not captured by this publication will be available to enrolled students via Wattle.
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Workload
One 3 hour workshop per week. Optional drop-in session. 6-7 hours per week of homework.Inherent Requirements
To be determined
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
None
Assumed Knowledge
Physics to year 12 or physics bridging course. Maths to the level of at least year 12 Maths Methods or equivalent.
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
If you are a domestic graduate coursework or international student you will be required to pay tuition fees. Tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 2
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are an undergraduate student and have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). You can find your student contribution amount for each course at Fees. Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2020 | $4050 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2020 | $5760 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
First Semester
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3540 | 24 Feb 2020 | 02 Mar 2020 | 08 May 2020 | 05 Jun 2020 | In Person | N/A |