Units / MEC2404
MEC2404 · Mechanics of fluids
2026 Handbook6 credit pointsLevel 2Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Last checked: 23 Aug 2026 UTCOverview
This unit develops your physical understanding of fluid statics and fluid flow and the interaction of fluid forces with solids. Topics include hydrostatics, Reynolds transport theorem, continuity and momentum equations, control volume analysis, the Bernoulli equation, viscous pipe flow, pumps, dimensional analysis, boundary layers, flow measurement techniques and applications of fluid forces in flow - lift and drag.
Offerings
The Handbook publishes no offerings for this unit.
Assessment
The Handbook lists an examination for this unit.
| # | Assessment | Type | Weight | Hurdle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Moodle quizzes | Quiz / Test | 9% | Threshold |
| 2 | In-semester test(s) | Quiz / Test | 51% | Threshold |
| 3 | Final assessment | Examination | 40% | Threshold |
Continuous assessment: 60% Final assessment: 40% This unit contains hurdle requirements that you must achieve to be able to pass the unit. You are required to achieve at least 45% in the total continuous assessment component and at least 45% in the final assessment component. The consequence of not achieving a hurdle requirement is a fail grade (NH) and a maximum mark of 45 for the unit.
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Requisites
Learning outcomes
- Determine fluid forces acting on bodies exposed to a volume of static fluid, with extension to fluid undergoing rigid body motion.
- Determine solutions to flow problems, with simplifications as appropriate, using a control volume approach to transport of mass and momentum.
- Determine model scaling parameters for experimentation and prototype performance and present results meaningfully using dimensional analysis and modelling.
- Determine lift and drag forces on bodies (including motor vehicles) subjected to fluid motion, describing the effects of boundary layer modification and flow separation.
- Select suitable pumps for flow systems informed by determining flow rates and pressure drops in pipe networks under steady-state conditions for either laminar or turbulent flows.
Workload
The minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of 3-6 hours of scheduled learning activities and 6-9 hours of independent study per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher-directed learning, peer-directed learning and online engagement. Independent study may include associated readings, assessment and preparation for scheduled activities.
Ask about MEC2404
Answered from the Handbook fields above — no AI, no guessing. Every answer links back to the source.
Community discussions about MEC2404
CommunityStudent experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.