11–12Engineering Studies 11–12 Syllabus (2026)

Record of changes

Implementation from 2028

Expand for detailed implementation advice

Overview Rationale Aim Outcomes Content Assessment Glossary Teaching and learning support

Content

Year 11

Year 12

Teaching advice

Examples

Transport engineering and automation

Testing of engineering materials

Describe the applications of hardness and impact testing of materials in vehicle design
Compare the indenters of Rockwell, Brinell and Vickers hardness tests
Describe how the Charpy impact test, as a destructive test (DT), is used to determine the toughness of materials

Heat treatment of engineering materials

Differentiate the mechanisms occurring during full annealing, normalising, quench hardening and tempering of plain carbon steels and represent the resulting microstructural changes, including the formation of martensite during quench hardening, using labelled sketches
Explain how carbon content influences the hardenability of plain carbon steels during quenching in water or oil
Compare carburising and nitriding processes used to achieve case (surface) hardening in low‑carbon steel components, including gears
Compare the impact of adding nickel and chromium to plain carbon steel used for case hardening and in the production of stainless steel
Discuss induction hardening as a selective surface hardening process used in the manufacture of plain carbon steel engine components containing greater than 0.3% carbon

Forming processes of metals

Use sketches to illustrate how the microstructure and mechanical properties differ between machined and drop-forged components
Describe the processes of sand casting, die casting and investment casting used in the manufacture of engine components
Justify the use of 0.1% carbon sheet steel in the press forming of automotive panels
Use sketches to represent the changes in microstructure, mechanical properties, thickness tolerance and surface finish that occur when a material undergoes hot and cold rolling
Describe the manufacture of aluminium 6063 tubing through direct extrusion
Describe the advantages of powder forming in the manufacture of mechanical components
Explain the compacting, cold welding and sintering stages of powder forming
Represent the weld zone and heat affected zone (HAZ) of a weld using a labelled macrostructure to identify features, including columnar grains, equiaxed grains, recrystallised grains and grain growth
Compare the advantages of ferrous and non-ferrous metals in the manufacture of vehicle components, with respect to corrosion resistance, density and strength

Ceramics and glasses

Distinguish between the properties, characteristics and applications of toughened and laminated glass in vehicles
Describe the process of manufacturing laminated glass
Outline the service properties obtained from ceramic coatings on engine components

Polymers

Justify the use of carbon fibre-reinforced epoxy instead of 0.1% carbon steel for vehicle bonnets
Explain mechanical property changes that occur when rubber is vulcanised
Describe the properties of polymers, including polycarbonate and acrylic, that make them suitable for vehicle lighting applications, including headlights and taillights
Justify the use of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) as a possible material for the manufacture of vehicle bumpers
Compare the injection moulding and extrusion processes used for the manufacturing of thermoplastic polymers

Simple machines

Calculate the mechanical advantage (MA) of simple machines using forces
Analyse the movement and force of a woomera used by Aboriginal Peoples
Calculate the velocity ratio for pulley systems using the formula ${VR}_{pulleys} = falls of rope$ (based on effort direction)
Calculate the velocity ratio for simple gears using the formula ${VR}_{gears} = \frac{driven}{driver}$ , where $VR$ is the velocity ratio, $d r i v e n$ is the number of teeth on the driven gear and $d r i v e r$ is the number of teeth on the driver gear
Calculate the velocity ratio for an inclined plane using the formula ${VR}_{inclined plane} = \frac{D_{E}}{D_{L}} = \frac{1}{\sin θ}$ , where $VR$ is the velocity ratio, $D_{E}$ is the distance moved by the effort along the inclined plane with units in metres (m), $D_{L}$ is the distance the load is raised or vertical height with units in metres (m) and $θ$ is the angle of inclination
Calculate the velocity ratio for a screw mechanism using the formula ${VR}_{screws} = \frac{D_{E}}{D_{L}} = \frac{π D}{Pitch}$ , where $VR$ is the velocity ratio, $D_{E}$ is the distance moved by the effort, $D_{L}$ is the distance moved by the load, $D$ is the diameter of the screw and $P i t c h$ is the distance advanced per turn
Calculate the velocity ratio for a wheel and axle using the formula ${VR}_{wheel & axle} = \frac{R_{wheel}}{r_{axle}} = \frac{D_{E}}{D_{L}}$ where $VR$ is the velocity ratio, $R_{wheel}$ is the radius of the wheel, $r_{axle}$ is the radius of the axle, $D_{E}$ is the distance the effort moves and $D_{L}$ is the distance the load moves
Apply the principles of mechanical advantage, velocity ratio and efficiency in engineering contexts
Identify screw threads using a thread gauge and compare common thread types used in engineering applications

Friction

Explain the role of friction that enables traction and braking in practical engineering contexts
Explain the relationship between friction reduction and improved efficiency in engineering systems
Illustrate the normal reaction force as being perpendicular to the sliding surface
Perform calculations for friction examples on horizontal surfaces
Solve problems relating to limiting friction on an inclined plane using the formula $\tan θ = μ_{s}$ , where $θ$ is the angle of inclination and $μ_{s}$ is the coefficient of static friction
Calculate and analyse the angle of friction using the formula $\tan ϕ = μ_{s}$ where $ϕ$ is the angle of friction and $μ_{s}$ is the coefficient of static friction

Mechanics systems (work, energy and power)

Apply the formula $W = Fs$ to solve problems related to work in mechanical systems, where $W$ is the work done with units in Joules (J), $F$ is the force with units in Newtons (N) and $s$ is the distance with units in metres (m)
Apply the formula $P = \frac{work}{time} = \frac{W}{t} = \frac{F s}{t} = F v$ to solve problems related to power in mechanical systems, where $P$ is the power with units in Watts (W), $W$ is the work with units in Joules (J), $t$ is time with units in seconds (s), $F$ is force with units in Newtons (N) and $v$ is the velocity, which is equal to displacement divided by time or $\frac{s}{t}$ with units in metres per second (m/s)
Apply the formula $KE = \frac{1}{2} m v^{2}$ to solve problems related to kinetic energy, where $KE$ is kinetic energy with units in Joules (J), $m$ is mass with units in kilograms (kg) and $v$ is velocity with units in metres per second (m/s)
Apply the formula $PE = mgh$ to solve problems related to potential energy, where $PE$ is potential energy with units in Joules (J), $m$ is mass with units in kilograms (kg), $g$ is acceleration due to gravity (10 m/s²) and $h$ is the height of the object with units in metres (m)
Explain the conservation of energy principle in engineering problems
Apply the conservation of the energy principle using the formula $W = Fs = Δ KE + Δ PE$ to solve engineering problems, where $W$ is the work done with units in Joules (J), $F$ is the force with units in Newtons (N), $s$ is the distance moved in the direction of the force with units in metres (m), $Δ KE$ is the change in kinetic energy with units in Joules (J) and $Δ PE$ is the change in potential energy with units in Joules (J)
Calculate and analyse the relationships between velocity, kinetic energy and potential energy in engineering applications
Calculate vehicle stopping distances on level surfaces and inclined planes given velocity and coefficient of friction

Control technology and automation

Describe the structure and function of diodes and transistors as semiconductors
Explain the role of transistors as switches and their use in constructing logic gates
Construct truth tables and determine outputs of control systems based on logic gate arrangements using AND, OR, NAND, NOT and NOR gates
Explain the function and application of sensors and actuators in automation systems
Describe the ethical and societal considerations in designing automated systems that support accessibility, equity and inclusion

Engineering graphics

Communicate the symbols and conventions of third-angle projection, including chamfer, fillet, bush, spotface and keyway
Use the dimensions of plain, structural metric bolts and nuts using the Australian Standard for Technical Drawing (AS 1100), and washers based on the nominal diameter
Produce scaled pictorial and orthogonal drawings in third-angle projection using technical drawing equipment
Apply hatching, hidden detail, centre-lines and section lines in single components and multi-part assemblies using line types specified in the Australian Standard for Technical Drawing (AS 1100)
Provide dimensions to orthogonal drawings using the aligned method specified by the Australian Standard for Technical Drawing (AS 1100)
Interpret a parts list in assembly drawings
Outline the impact of computer-aided drafting (CAD) in engineering analysis, simulation, virtual testing and computer-aided manufacture (CAM)

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