Guidance

MCA General Engineering Science A Written Examination Syllabuses

Published 1 July 2021

© Crown copyright 2021

This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.

Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.

This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/general-engineering-science-written-examination-syllabuses/mca-general-engineering-science-a-written-examination-syllabuses

1. Mechanics

The candidate will know:

  1. The relationship of linear and angular velocity, distance and acceleration.
  2. The effect of forces and torques on motion and lifting machines.
  3. Forces in equilibrium.
  4. The Conservation of Energy theory and momentum.
  5. The relationship between mass, volume and density.
  6. Static and dynamic friction.
  7. The effects of tensile, compressive and shear forces.
  8. The relationship between stress and strain.
  9. The mechanical properties of materials.
  10. Factor of safety.

The candidate will be able to:

  1. Solve problems relating to linear and angular distance, velocity and acceleration.
  2. Solve problems relating to work, power, energy and efficiency.
  3. Solve problems relating to lifting machines using mechanical advantage and velocity ratio.
  4. Solve problems relating to force, inertia and momentum.
  5. Solve problems relating to forces in equilibrium by graphical or analytical means.
  6. Solve problems relating to simply supported beams involving vertical forces and uniformly distributed loads.
  7. State and apply the conservation of energy theory.
  8. Solve problems relating to density of solids.
  9. Describe the relationship between density and specific gravity.
  10. Solve problems relating to static and dynamic friction.
  11. Describe the effect of friction on and between materials.
  12. Describe the effects of forces acting on a material.
  13. Explain tensile, compressive and shear forces.
  14. Explain the tensile test for an elastic material.
  15. Explain ductility, brittleness, toughness, hardness, elasticity, plasticity, malleability.
  16. Explain working stress and factor of safety.
  17. Solve problems relating to stress and strain, safe working load and factor of safety.

The candidate will know:

  1. The relationship between centre of gravity and centre of buoyancy and the significance of the relative position of these points.
  2. The changes to the vessel’s condition when weights are added, removed and moved.

The candidate will be able to:

  1. Explain the relationship between centre of gravity and centre of buoyancy and the significance of the relative position of these points.
  2. Solve problems involving simple ship shapes to establish changes relating to the changes in vessel condition when weights are added, removed or moved within the ship. Apply the formula GM = (md)/∆tanθ
Back to top