640-152 Physics for Biomedical Science B

Note

Credit Points

HECS Band

Coordinator

Prerequisites

It will be assumed that students are familiar with the content of 640-151 Physics for Biomedical Science A. Some knowledge of physics, VCE Mathematical Methods 3/4 (or an equivalent subject). For BSc students, entry to this subject will be by invitation of the Head of the School of Physics, usually requiring a very high level of achievement in the final year of secondary school.

Semester

Contact

Subject Description

An understanding of physics is essential to the description of many biological processes and the development of modern medical science and technology. This is the second subject of a two-semester sequence which will develop students' appreciation of the importance of physical principles to biomedical science as well as their understanding of the principles underpinning human structure and function, medical diagnostics and therapeutics.

The subject provides an introduction to several areas: fluids: blood flow, respiration and membranes (pressure in fluids, fluid flow, viscosity, surface tension, membranes and capillarity); thermal physics: energy balance of living organisms, movement of ions across membranes (thermal energy and temperature, thermal expansion, first law of thermodynamics, conduction, convection, radiation and exaporation, diffusion); electricity and magnetism: Bioelectricity, nerve conduction, electrical safety and instrumentation, therapeutic uses of electromagnetic waves (forces between electric charges, electric currents, magnetic forces on moving charged particles, electric circuits, resistance, capacitance, electromagnetic waves); radiation: radiation safety, carbon dating, therapeutic uses of radiation (the atomic nucleus, isotopes, nuclear decay and radiation, physical and biological half-life, ionising radiation); and imaging: modern biomedical imaging (X-rays (radiography), CT-scans and angiography, magnetic resonance and nuclear magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography, gamma-ray imaging).

Assessment

A 3-hour end-of-semester examination (65%); laboratory work together with a group project (25%); tests totalling 1 hour during the semester (10%). Students must complete satisfactorily both laboratory and project work to obtain a pass.

Prescribed Texts

• R A Serway, Principles of Physics. 2nd ed., Saunders, 1994.
• J Faughn, Life Science Applications for Physics. Harcourt Brace, 1994.