There are 10 lessons:

1. Electromagnetic Induction

• Introduction to Electricity
• Rules of charge
• Coulomb’s law
• Magnetism
• Electromagnetism
• Electromagnetic induction
• Faraday’s Law of electromagnetic induction
• Lenz’s law
• Fleming’s Rules
• Eddy currents
• Transformers
• Generators
• Motors

2.  Power Generation and Transmission

• Primary sources of electrical energy
• Energy from the water head
• Energy from burning fuels
• Nuclear energy
• Wind energy
• Solar energy
• Types of power plants
• Hydroelectric power plants
• Thermal power plants
• Nuclear power plants
• Wind power plants

3.  Circular Motion and Gravitation

• Lesson introduction
• Review of circles – radius, diameter, tangent, arc, circumference
• Important equations for working with circles
• Circular motion
• Uniform circular motion
• Time, frequency, position, speed, tangential velocity, centripetal force
• Centripetal acceleration
• Newton’s law of gravitation
• Satellites and Kepler’s Laws

4.  Engineering Physics – Rigid Bodies and Rotational Dynamics

• Rotational Motion
• Degrees and Radians
• Angular Position
• Angular Displacement
• Angular Velocity
• Angular Velocity & Linear Velocity
• Angular Acceleration
• Kinematic Equations (Angular Acceleration)
• Torque
• Moment of Inertia
• Angular Momentum
• Kinetic Energy of Rotation
• Rotational Energy, Work and Power

5.  Engineering Physics- Fluids and fluid dynamics

• Fluid and dynamics introduction
• Definitions and Properties
• Density
• Pressure
• Flow
• Steady and Unsteady Flow
• Laminar Flow and Turbulent Flow
• Open Flow
• Open-channel flow
• Compressible and Incompressible Flow
• Forces on Fluids
• Pressure and Atmospheric Pressure
• Water Pressure
• Pressure Difference
• Buoyant Forces
• Pascal’s Law
• Principles of Fluid Dynamics
• The Equation of Continuity
• Flow Rate and Its Relation to Velocity
• Archimedes’ Principle
• Bernoulli’s Theorem
• Viscosity
• Turbulence

6.  Relativity

• The Principle of Relativity
• Special Relativity
• Space-time
• Universal Speed Limit
• Relativistic Mass
• Time Dilation
• Length Contraction
• Doppler Effect on Wavelength
• Applications

7.  Introduction to Imaging

• Electromagnetic Radiation
• Electromagnetic Spectrum
• Comparison of EM Waves
• Relationship Between Frequency and Wavelength
• Relationship Between Frequency and Energy
• Visible Light
• The Wave Nature of Light
• Properties of Light
• Speed of Light
• Reflection of Light
• Refraction of Light
• Snell’s Law
• Diffraction of Light and Interference
• Dispersion
• Optional Image Formation
• Lens Types

8.  Imaging instrumentation and Medical imaging

• Types of Medical Imaging
• Radiography
• Computerised Tomography
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
• Ultrasound Imaging
• Electron Microscopy
• TEM
• SEM
• Nuclear Medicine
• Positron emission Tomography
• Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography
• Bone Scan
• Photoacoustic Imaging
• Medical Imaging Instruments
• CT, PET and MRI Scanners
• Ultrasound Machine
• Advantages and Disadvantages of Medical Imaging

9.  Fibre optics

• Introduction
• Definitions
• Construction of Optical Fibre Cable
• Advantages and Disadvantages Fibre Optics
• Fibre Characteristics
• Mechanical Characteristics
• Transmission Characteristics
• Different Types of Fibres and Their Properties
• Single and Multimode Fibres
• Step Index and Graded Index Fibres
• Principles of Light Propagation Through a Fibre
• Refractive Index
• Total Internal Reflection
• Numerical Aperture
• Acceptance Angle
• Skew Mode
• Applications of Fibre Optics

10.  Engineering Physics in Construction

• Introduction to physics in construction
• Surveying
• Building Roads and Paths
• Constructing Buildings
• Basic Principles in Building Engineering Physics
• Acoustics
• Air Movement
• Building Services
• Climate
• Construction Technology
• Control of Moisture
• Lighting
• Thermal Performance
• Properties of Common Materials
• Definitions
• Simple and Damped Harmonic Motion
• Forced Oscillations
• Vibrations inside built structures
• Vibrations from outside built structures
• Resonant Response and Damping

Please Note:  Each lesson culminates in an assignment, submitted and marked by your tutor and returned  with relevant suggestions, comments, and extra reading where required.

• Explain how electricity works, and how it relates to electromagnetic induction.
• Explain different types of power generation.
• Explain some of the advantages and disadvantages of certain types of power generation.
• Explain the general principles of circular motion.
• Explain the general principle of gravity and how it applies to satellites.
• Explain the major principles of rotational motion.
• Explain the relationship between rotational motion and power.
• Define a fluid in physics terms.
• Explain how fluids move and some of their applications in everyday life.
• Explain the general principles of relativity and when they are used.
• Explain how light moves and creates images people can see.
• Explain some common medical imaging techniques and how they use light and sound to create images.
• Explain how light moves through a fibre optic cable and the factors that affect it.
• Explain practical applications for fibre optics.
• Explain practical applications for physics in the construction industry.

• Demonstrate moving electrons from one material to another via static electricity.
• Research videos on electromagnetic induction online to “see” the relationship between electricity and magnetism for yourself.
• Using the diagrams in this course as a guide, find an old piece of equipment that you can pull apart and identify the motor and its component parts.
• Talk to a person about the energy sources they utilise.
• Search online and watch videos of the inner workings of a power plant.
• Try to test out tangential velocity for yourself. Start with a small stone, marble, or key.
• Search online for videos of car racing and think about the forces in play. Draw a diagram showing the different forces acting on the car.
• Find the measurement of a radian yourself.
• Search online for videos of ice skaters performing spins, pay attention to the velocity – remember, the
• speed and direction – in how they start their spins.
• Try to make a laminar flow with the balloon experiment.
• Search for videos online on the physics of aeroplanes and airflow, look at the way the air moves and the factors affecting the wings and keeping the plane in the air.
• Experiment with your own personal frames of reference.
• Look at your own, or a friend’s, glasses. Consider questions outlined and take notes.
• Search for funhouse optical illusion videos online and pay attention to the shape of the mirrors in the video and think about how they affect the images shown.
• Think about a time you or a friend may have had a medical scan and talk with others on experiences with medical imaging. Ask them questions about it and make notes.
• Select one of the medical imaging types and understand how the imaging type was developed, when, and what it is commonly used for.
• Explore your house, school, or other accessible places for fibre optic cables. Note down your findings with a pen and paper.
• Search online for the applications of fibre optics in your area. Take notes on your findings.
• Talk to a builder or a surveying technician or anyone familiar with construction about the importance of surveying in construction. Share your opinion on the significance of planning in a construction project.
• Recreate a simple pendulum experiment using a string and a ball and measure the time period T for the pendulum to complete one oscillation.

FLUIDS AND FLUID DYNAMICS

We can classify matter into three basic categories based on their properties: solid, liquid, and gas. A gas takes on the shape and volume of a container it is in. A liquid takes the shape of the container that it fills but retains a fixed volume. A solid has a specified shape and volume. Liquids and gases are called fluids. Fluid dynamics is the branch of science that involves the study of movement of liquids and gases.

Definitions and Properties

Viscosity
This refers to the thickness of the fluid. Viscosity is a measure of opposition to flow. The opposite of viscosity is fluidity which is the measure of easiness to flow. A fluid with a low viscosity is a thin fluid, and a high viscosity fluid is known as a thick fluid. It is easier to move through a thin fluid than a thick fluid.
Two types of viscosity are:

• Dynamic viscosity
• Kinematic viscosity

Dynamic viscosity is defined as the measure of the internal resistance of a fluid to flow. Kinematic viscosity is defined as the ratio of dynamic viscosity to density. If dynamic viscosity is denoted as μ and density as ρ, then Kinematic viscosity:
ν = μ / ρ.

Density
The density of a material is defined as its mass per unit volume. In other words, density is the ratio of mass and volume of a material.

To calculate the density (ρ) of an object with mass (m) and volume (v), we can use the formula ρ = m / v

The SI unit of density is kilogram per cubic meter (kilogram per meter cubed).

Pressure
Pressure is a measurement of the force applied per unit area. We know the unit of force is Newton and the unit of area is square meter. Therefore, the unit of pressure will be Newton per square meter. But the generally adopted SI unit of pressure is Pascal (P).

Flow
The movement of liquids and gases is called the flow of the fluid.

As fluids flow, the density and pressure of the fluids are significant properties. The viscosity defines how resistant the liquid is to change. Therefore, knowing these variables is necessary for examining the flow.

Based on the various properties of the flow, it can be classified into different categories.

Steady and Unsteady Flow
If the flow of fluid is not changing over time, it is considered a steady flow. A current flowing at a constant rate through a straight pipe would be an example of a steady flow.

If the flow has properties that change over time, then it is called an unsteady flow. Rainwater flowing into a drain during a storm is an example of unsteady flow.

Laminar Flow and Turbulent Flow
A smooth flow of liquid is called a laminar flow. A flow that involves apparent disorder or non-linear motion is called a turbulent flow.

The difference between laminar or turbulent flow is usually associated with the Reynolds number (Re). The Reynolds number depends on the properties of the fluid and the conditions of its flow.

Re = Inertial force / Viscous forces

Or

Re = (ρ V L) / μ

where ρ is the density, μ is the viscosity, V is the velocity of the flow and L is the scale of length.

Pipe Flow
Pipe flow describes a flow that touches or comes in contact with the rigid boundaries on all sides, such as water moving through a pipe or air moving through an air duct.

Open-Channel Flow
Open-channel flow denotes the flow in other situations where there is at least one free surface that is not touching or in contact with a rigid boundary. Examples of open-channel flow include water flowing in a river, floods, and irrigation canals.

Compressible and Incompressible flow
Gases are usually compressible fluids as the volume that contains it can be decreased. The size of an air duct can be decreased to half the original size and it can still carry the same amount of gas at the same rate.

Liquids can also be compressed, but there is a limitation on the amount of compression that can be made. Therefore, liquids are generally referred to as incompressible.

FORCES ON FLUIDS

Fluids are substances that continually deforms when a force is applied to them unlike solids and continues to deform even after the force is removed.

Pressure
Pressure is the force applied per unit area, and its SI unit is Pascal. The pressure will be higher if a force is exerted over a small area compared to the pressure when the same force is applied over a larger area.

Atmospheric pressure
The pressure exerted by the gases in Earth’s atmosphere is called atmospheric pressure. Earth’s atmosphere is retained against the surface of the Earth by gravity.

Gravity gives weight to the gases and lets the gases apply pressure on us in all directions. There is a weight of about 10N on every square centimetre of your body surface. Fluids in our body apply pressure back, so we do not notice this pressure. As you go up, air pressure is reduced, and the concentration of air molecules reduces.

This is the reason for less oxygen with every breath at higher altitudes. You will notice atmospheric pressure most when you go up to higher altitudes or climb down from higher altitudes. The atmospheric pressure varies non-uniformly with altitude. It changes more swiftly at lower altitudes. Atmospheric pressure can be measured by an instrument called ‘the barometer’.

Water pressure
Like atmospheric pressure, water pressure depends on depth. Because water is denser than air, a certain volume of water has more mass and weighs more than the same volume of air.

Pressure difference
Fluids move from areas of higher pressure to areas of lower pressure. For instance, when you inhale, your diaphragm muscle expands the volume of your chest cavity and thus lower the pressure. Air outside will be at a higher pressure, and it will rush into the lower pressure area in your lungs.

When you exhale, your diaphragm pushes up, reducing the volume of your chest, squeezing the air in your lungs, and raising its pressure. The air moves out into the lower pressure atmosphere.

Buoyant forces
A lifting force experienced by an object fully merged or submerged in a fluid is called buoyant force. This phenomenon is called buoyancy.

Then how do objects sink in a fluid if there is an upward force acting on it?

For sinking objects, their weight is greater than the buoyant force.

Pascal’s law
Pascal’s law states that when pressure is applied to a fluid in an enclosed container, it will get transmitted without loss to every portion of the fluid and to the walls of the container.

The principle was first introduced by a scientist called Blaise Pascal. According to Pascal’s law, in a hydraulic system, a pressure exerted on a piston generates an equal increase in pressure on another piston in the same system.

It can be represented mathematically as:

F=PA

Where:

F = force applied

P = pressure transmitted

A = cross-sectional area

A hydraulic press is an important application of Pascal’s law.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Here is a list of the most often asked FAQ’s.

General

Q. Why should I enrol with the Academy for Distance Learning?
A. Here at ADL, our students are our priority – we treat everyone as a unique individual.

Q. Do I need to buy text books?
A. No, as each module has been written by highly qualified industry professionals. The content of the material is presented in such a way that text books are not required. However, if you require additional reading your tutor will be able to supply a list.

Q. What happens if I have to stop studying for a while? (eg. become sick, go on holidays, have a baby, move house, etc)
A. It’s OK to take a break and start up your study at a later point in time. Just let us know.

Q. Is there an age limit?
A. There is no maximum age limit. We do however, have a minimum age limit of 18 years. Below that age parental consent would be required.

Q. Are your courses up-to date?
A. Our courses are revised and updated on a rotation system.

Q. Do you have a Cancellation policy?
A. Yes. We have a cancellation policy that is fair and equitable. For further details please click here.

Q. Will I have any opportunity to engage with other students?
A. We have a Student Community group based on facebook! If you don’t have a facebook account already, you could make one just for talking with fellow students on the group.

Enrolment

Q. When can I enrol/start?
A. You may enrol and start at any time of the year – it’s all self- paced.

Q. Can I study from anywhere in the world?
A. Our courses are available to anyone, anywhere in the world from the comfort of your own home. The course content is relevant to any country, culture or economy.

Q. How long do I have to complete the course?
A. You complete the course at any time that is convenient for you.

Q. Completing a 100 hour module – how long will it take?
A. For some students a 100 hour module will take approximately to 3- 6 months to complete. Others take less time and some even longer.

Assessment

Q. Assessment – how does it work?
A. For each 100 hour module you are assessed by assignments (at the end of each lesson) and a final one and a half hour exam (or you may elect to complete a Project, instead of sitting the exam) – the choice is yours – you sit for the exam in your own location.

Q. I don’t cope well with exams – what can I do?
A. You may elect to undertake a Project (set by your tutor) instead of sitting the exam. Projects are completed from your home and can usually take a couple of weeks to complete.

Q. If my assignment is not up to standard is there an opportunity to resubmit my work?
A. Yes –

Q. How many assignments do I need to complete for each module?
A. At the end of each lesson, there is an assignment – so if a course has say, 10 lessons, there would be 10 assignments.

Q. I am having difficulty attending workshops/industry meetings, what can be done?
A. If your course requires attendance at workshops, conferences, or industry meetings; alternative arrangements can be made in your country.

Qualifications

Q. What qualification will I receive?
A. For individual modules, you would be awarded a Certificate endorsed by TQUK (Training Qualifications, UK), providing you complete all assignments and the exam. If you just want to complete only the assignments and not sit for the exam or finish a Project, then a Letter of Achievement would be awarded. For more details on qualifications available please click here.

Q. Can I customize my diploma/higher qualification?
A. Not all educational institution’s certificates /diplomas meet everyone’s needs. The opportunity to Design Your Own Diploma at the Academy (subject to our approval) is an added bonus, not found at other colleges. You choose modules that you think will help you in achieving your goal.

Q. What do I get when I complete the course? Will I receive a transcript?
A. At the completion of all courses and providing all assignments and exam requirements have been met, you will receive your Award and a Transcript.

Tutors

Q. Our tutors – who are they?
A. We appoint Tutors and require that they must be currently active in their industry, with at least 5 years’ experience in their chosen profession.

Q. Can I contact my tutor at any time?
A. Yes – you have unlimited access to your tutor via email through our Online Classroom. You can always leave a message with ADL requesting your tutor to contact you. You decide on how much or how little contact you wish to have.

Q. Practical work – How is this done?
A. To find out more about this part of the course please visit the section on How Our Courses Work here.