MTH3360 Fluid dynamics
Faculty of Science
MTH3360 Fluid dynamics is a level 3, 6-credit-point, undergraduate unit from the Faculty of Science, offered in 2026 in Semester 1 at Clayton. It needs (MTH2015, ENG2005 or MTH2010) and (MTH2032 or MTH2040).
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2026
- Semester 1
- Clayton
- Assessment
- Exam 50%
- and 1 other task
This is the 2026 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
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Requisites
Before MTH3360
Prerequisites
Pass these before you enrol.
After MTH3360
No unit lists MTH3360 as a prerequisite in the 2026 handbook.
Overview
The continuum hypothesis; notion of a fluid particle; pathlines and streamlines. Eulerian and Lagrangian frameworks; the material derivative. Conservation of mass; incompressibility; streamfunctions. Forces acting on a fluid; the stress tensor; conservation of momentum; the constitutive relation; the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations. Boundary conditions. Exact solutions of Navier-Stokes equations. Non-dimensionalization and dimensional analysis; Reynolds number. Low Reynolds number flows. Vorticity; circulation; Helmholtz' vorticity equation; properties of vorticity; Kelvin's circulation theorem. Lubrication theory. Inviscid flows; potential flows. Boundary layer equations and flows.
Offerings in 2026
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| First semester | Clayton | On campus |
Assessment
- Continuous assessmentDemonstration50%
- Final assessment - Exam (3 hours and 10 minutes)Examination50%
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
Explain the scope of fluid dynamics in the physical sciences;
- 2
Articulate the mathematical description of fluid motion;
- 3
Summarise the derivation of the equations of incompressible fluid motion;
- 4
Apply the process of scaling to simplify the governing equations for viscous and inertia dominated flows;
- 5
Apply the process of scaling to lubrication and boundary layer flows;
- 6
Solve the governing and reduced equations in simple situations and understand the physical implications of the solutions and their limitations.
Workload and teaching
- Lectures24 hours
- Applied sessions36 hours
- Teaching approachPeer assisted learning
- Teaching approachOnline learning
- Teaching approachActive learning
- 2 hours of pre-recorded lectures;
- One 3-hour applied class and
- 7 hours of independent study per week.
In the applied classes, you will do a double-pass quiz (you will first complete the quiz alone and then in a pair/three) to check your understanding of the lecture material. You will then work on a problem sheet in a group of three/four students at a whiteboard.
Lecture material will be delivered via pre-recorded videos.
You will work through problems as a group.
Where it fits
MTH3360 is part of 5 areas of study in the 2026 handbook.
Contacts
- Unit Coordinators
- Dr Anja Slim
- Chief Examiners
- Dr Anja Slim
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for MTH3360?
You need (MTH2015, ENG2005 or MTH2010) and (MTH2032 or MTH2040) before you enrol.
When is MTH3360 offered?
In 2026, MTH3360 runs in Semester 1 at Clayton.
Does MTH3360 have an exam?
Yes. The exam is worth 50% of the final mark, alongside 1 other task.
Which majors and minors include MTH3360?
MTH3360 is part of Applied mathematics, Mathematical statistics and Mathematics.