PRINCIPLES OF ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCE - 2025/6
Module code: ENG0013
Module Overview
This module introduces several principles and processes which underpin most physical science and engineering disciplines, which you are likely to study beyond the Foundation Year. Specifically, you will study topics that include S.I. units and measurement theory, electric and magnetic fields and their interactions, the properties of ideal gases, heat transfer and thermodynamics, fluid statics and dynamics, and engineering instrumentation and measurement. You will attend several lectures and a tutorial each teaching week alongside guided independent study opportunities to develop your understanding of topics more deeply, supported by the use of the university’s virtual learning platform.
Module provider
Sustainability, Civil & Env Engineering
Module Leader
BAKER Lewis (Chst Chm Eng)
Number of Credits: 15
ECTS Credits: 7.5
Framework: FHEQ Level 3
Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A
Overall student workload
Independent Learning Hours: 36
Lecture Hours: 36
Tutorial Hours: 12
Guided Learning: 30
Captured Content: 36
Module Availability
Semester 1
Prerequisites / Co-requisites
N/A
Module content
This module provides opportunities to explore key concepts of simple electromagnetic field theory, energy conservation, equations of states of ideal gases, and static and dynamic fluid models. Across all subject content, several opportunities are provided to develop understanding through a range of problem-solving whilst simultaneously honing fundamental mathematical competencies that are integral to a solid foundation in physics. By engaging in these activities, you will build resilience to complex and compound problem-solving and develop resourcefulness in navigating solution strategies, drawing on other areas of your Foundation Year studies.
Assessment pattern
| Assessment type | Unit of assessment | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Online Scheduled Summative Class Test | Timed Online (Open Book) Test within 24Hr Window (1 Hour) | 30 |
| Examination Online | Timed Online (Open Book) Exam within 4Hr Window (2 Hours) | 70 |
Alternative Assessment
N/A
Assessment Strategy
The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate that all learning objectives have been met by the end of the module.
Your summative assessment (assessments which are directly used to determine a pass) for this module consists of:
- Timed Online (Open Book) Test administered through SurreyLearn (1 hour) [LOs 1 – 4] 30%.
- Feedback will be provided in the form of an examiner’s report, which details the common areas the cohort struggled with, and learning objectives you personally struggled with. You can use this feedback to help identify areas which would likely benefit from deeper review before the final exam.
- Timed Online (Open Book) Exam administered through SurreyLearn (2 hours) [LOs 1 – 9] 70%.
- You should find the feedback from the previous test useful since all LOs are examined in this assessment. Feedback will be provided in the form of an examiner’s report, which details the common areas the cohort struggled with, and learning objectives you personally struggled with. You can use this feedback to help identify areas which would likely benefit from deeper review as you continue your studies into Semester 2.
Formative assessment (assessments which inform on your learning, but do not directly contribute to the passing of the module) consists of:
- Lectures and tutorials will provide you with key opportunities to ask questions, review your knowledge of taught content and deepen your understanding through a range of practice questions and opportunities for discussions with staff and other students.
- You will find that the vast majority of lecture material and practice questions have detailed model solutions which you should use to mark your work and identify areas for further development. You can bring such work to a tutorial to discuss with staff or other students as well.
Module aims
- This aims of this module are to introduce key physical properties and phenomenon relevant to engineering and physical sciences, and to demonstrate the concepts in the context of various engineering and physical sciences disciplines.
Learning outcomes
| Attributes Developed | ||
| 001 | Define SI units for common engineering parameters / properties; the systematic conversion of units | KC |
| 002 | Explain the ideas relevant to simple field theory, and common devices based on these principles | KC |
| 003 | Apply theoretical knowledge to model real-world systems and to solve simple practical problems in simple field theory | KCPT |
| 004 | Describe the types of energy and their conversion and conservation | K |
| 005 | Calculate heat transfer rates based on conduction, convection and radiation mechanisms | KC |
| 006 | Describe the equation of state for an ideal gas; the derivation and use of P-V, P-T and V-T relationships | KC |
| 007 | Differentiate between fluid pressure, density and viscosity and derive fundamental equations describing fluid pressure. | KC |
| 008 | Explain laminar, transitional and turbulent flow regimes and the notion of the Reynolds number for quantifying flow regimes | KC |
| 009 | Describe the basic principles of industrial temperature, flow and pressure measurement | K |
Attributes Developed
C - Cognitive/analytical
K - Subject knowledge
T - Transferable skills
P - Professional/Practical skills
Methods of Teaching / Learning
- You will access in-depth and high-quality lecture resources – tailored for face-to-face lectures with integrated question and feedback breaks allowing you to rapidly gain feedback on new learning. This also provides you with valuable asynchronous learning materials which are carefully organised with lecture-captured content into a coherent online environment. You will find that all lectures are mapped onto recommended reading texts, including where possible, eBooks.
- You will find that each lecture articulates learning objectives which are systematically reviewed within the lecture material. Additional lecture questions will provide you with ample opportunities to develop your understanding of any one specific learning objective in your independent study.
- Your tutorials are closely linked to the preceding lectures of that teaching week. A breadth of question types and contexts are provided to expose you to different problems to deepen your understanding of key concepts. The tutorials provide you with an excellent flipped learning opportunity, where tutorial questions are released early in the week for self-study, and feedback can be sought in the scheduled tutorial where model solutions are discussed in the small group environment.
- The module resources will signpost you to extended resources (such as the British Physics Olympiad) which provides a great opportunity to develop your understanding of key concepts well beyond the Foundation Year.
Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.
Reading list
https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: ENG0013
Other information
Foundation Year programmes are committed to developing students with strengths in Employability, Digital Capabilities, Global and Cultural Capabilities, Sustainability, Resourcefulness and Resilience. This module is designed to develop knowledge and skills in the following:
Employability: You will develop competencies in subject-specific terminology, problem-solving strategies, and specialist knowledge and understanding, highly sought after by many of the likely graduate employers you may choose to work with. This will likely include an ability to critique facts and fiction, approach unfamiliar scenarios with an informed perspective and be capable of mapping an appropriate knowledge and skill set to navigate towards a solution. You will, in turn, develop not only your scientific knowledge and skills but further enhance your ability to communicate science effectively to a range of audiences.
Resourcefulness and resilience: The module is designed in such a way as to encourage and support the progressive development of independent thinking and resourcefulness through scaffolded activities and assessments. You will be exposed to challenging authentic scenarios which invariably lead to setbacks and frustration. You are encouraged to reflect, fault-find and to question your strategy if the outcome of a problem-solving process is not as expected. You will learn how to seek verification of your output through independent research or peer collaboration and how to respond constructively to formal and informal feedback.
Sustainability: Through the introduction of more complex and connected scenarios in science and engineering, you will begin to appreciate that there are often many ways of approaching the same problem and the solutions have differing impacts on society and the environment. You will seek to incorporate societal and environmental impact considerations in “real-world” examples that are included in the module teaching and learning.
Programmes this module appears in
| Programme | Semester | Classification | Qualifying conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics with Foundation Year BSc (Hons) | 1 | Optional | A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module |
| Financial Mathematics with Foundation Year BSc (Hons) | 1 | Optional | A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module |
| Mathematics and Physics with Foundation Year BSc (Hons) | 1 | Compulsory | A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module |
| Physics with Nuclear Astrophysics with Foundation Year BSc (Hons) | 1 | Compulsory | A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module |
| Physics with Foundation Year BSc (Hons) | 1 | Compulsory | A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module |
| Physics with Astronomy with Foundation Year BSc (Hons) | 1 | Compulsory | A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module |
| Computer and Internet Engineering with Foundation Year BEng (Hons) | 1 | Compulsory | A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module |
| Electronic Engineering with Foundation Year BEng (Hons) | 1 | Compulsory | A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module |
| Biomedical Engineering with Foundation Year BEng (Hons) | 1 | Compulsory | A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module |
| Mechanical Engineering with Foundation Year BEng (Hons) | 1 | Compulsory | A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module |
| Astronautics and Space Engineering with Foundation Year BEng (Hons) | 1 | Compulsory | A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module |
| Aerospace Engineering with Foundation Year BEng (Hons) | 1 | Compulsory | A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module |
| Civil Engineering with Foundation Year BEng (Hons) | 1 | Compulsory | A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module |
| Chemical and Petroleum Engineering with Foundation Year BEng (Hons) | 1 | Compulsory | A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module |
| Chemical Engineering with Foundation Year BEng (Hons) | 1 | Compulsory | A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module |
| Physics with Quantum Computing with Foundation Year BSc (Hons) | 1 | Compulsory | A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module |
| Mathematics with Data Science with Foundation Year BSc (Hons) | 1 | Optional | A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module |
| Chemistry with Foundation Year BSc (Hons) | 1 | Compulsory | A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module |
| Electronic Engineering with Computer Systems With Foundation Year BEng (Hons) | 1 | Compulsory | A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering with Foundation Year BEng (Hons) | 1 | Compulsory | A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module |
| Computer Science with Foundation Year BSc (Hons) | 1 | Optional | A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module |
| Medicinal Chemistry with Foundation Year BSc (Hons) | 1 | Compulsory | A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module |
| Chemistry with Forensic Investigation with Foundation Year BSc (Hons) | 1 | Compulsory | A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module |
| Electronic Engineering with Artificial Intelligence with Foundation Year BEng (Hons) | 1 | Compulsory | A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module |
Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2025/6 academic year.