MEC2405 Thermodynamics
Faculty of Engineering
MEC2405 Thermodynamics is a level 2, 6-credit-point, undergraduate unit from the Faculty of Engineering, offered in 2025 in Semester 2 at Clayton and Malaysia. It needs ENG1005 and unlocks 3 units, leading on to 4 units in all.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2025
- Semester 2
- Clayton, Malaysia
- Assessment
- Exam 60%
- and 2 other tasks
- Workload
- 144 hours
- per semester
This is the 2025 handbook entry. See the 2026 entry.
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Requisites
Before MEC2405
Prerequisites
Pass these before you enrol.
Prohibitions
You can't enrol if you have passed any of these.
After MEC2405
3 units list MEC2405 as a prerequisite or corequisite.
Enrolment rules
Additional prerequisite
Completion of 24 credit points of units owned by the Faculty of Engineering
E6011 Master of Professional Engineering: You are exempt from the prerequisites rule if you are enrolled in this course.
Overview
This unit introduces concepts of heat, work, energy, temperature and pressure. The properties of pure substances, steam tables and phase diagrams and their use in thermodynamics problems, first and second laws of thermodynamics and their use in steady and unsteady state problems, Carnot cycle, gas power cycles, vapour and combined power cycles are introduced. Use of T-s diagrams for power cycle analysis, P-h diagrams in refrigeration cycle analysis and simple combustion processes are covered. Renewable energy such as solar, hydro, wind and biomass, and their use in heating and electricity generation and the environmental benefits of renewable energy conclude study in this unit.
Offerings in 2025
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Second semester | Clayton | Flexible |
| Second semester | Malaysia | On campus |
Assessment
- In-semester test(s)Quiz / Test20%
- Lab-based assignmentsDemonstration20%
- Final assessmentExamination60%
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
Identify concepts of thermodynamic equilibrium and energy transfer.
- 2
Determine the transfer of energy in ideal engineering devices using the First Law of Thermodynamics.
- 3
Determine the performance and efficiency of ideal and practical engineering devices using the Second Law of Thermodynamics.
- 4
Apply thermodynamics concepts to evaluate the performance of heat engines and refrigeration systems.
- 5
Discern measurements required to evaluate the thermodynamic performance of real engineering systems.
Workload and teaching
- Workshops24 hours
- Laboratories2 hours
- Practical activities24 hours
- Teaching approachActive learning
- Teaching approachPeer assisted learning
- Teaching approachProblem-based learning
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.
Learning resources
Required resources
S. Bhattacharjee "Thermodynamics: An Interactive Approach", 1st edition (global),
Pearson, 2016
Contacts
- Unit Coordinators
- Associate Professor Lau Ee Von
- Dr Prabhakar Ranganathan
- Chief Examiners
- Dr Prabhakar Ranganathan
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for MEC2405?
You need ENG1005 before you enrol. Enrolment rules also apply.
What can I take after MEC2405?
MEC2405 is a prerequisite or corequisite for 3 units, including MEC4408, MEC4417 and MEC4803. Those lead on to 4 units in all.
When is MEC2405 offered?
In 2025, MEC2405 runs in Semester 2 at Clayton and Malaysia.
How much work is MEC2405?
The handbook expects about 144 hours of study across the semester. No students have rated its difficulty yet.
Does MEC2405 have an exam?
Yes. The exam is worth 60% of the final mark, alongside 2 other tasks.