640-152 Physics for Biomedical Science B

Students may only gain credit for one of 640-006, 640-122, 640-142, 640-152 and 640-162.

Some knowledge of physics, VCE Unit 3/4 Mathematical Methods or equivalent. It will be assumed that students are familiar with the content of 640-151 Physics for Biomedical Science A.

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.

This subject 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.

Students completing this subject will be able to:

• explain the basic principles of fluids, thermal physics, electricity and magnetism, radiation and imaging;

• apply these principles, together with mathematical reasoning, to situations in the biomedical sciences; and

• acquire and interpret experimental data.

In addition students will be able to:

• participate as an effective member of tutorial, laboratory and study groups;

• communicate their understanding of physics orally and in written form in tutorials, lab classes, seminar program and study groups; and

• manage their time commitments to this subject in order to be prepared for regular lab and tutorial classes as well as tests and examination.

The subject provides an introduction to: Fluids: Blood flow, respiration, membranes (pressure in fluids, fluid flow, viscosity, surface tension). Thermal physics: Energy balance of living organisms, ion movement across membranes (thermal energy, temperature, heating processes, first law of thermodynamics, diffusion). Electricity and magnetism: Bioelectricity, nerve conduction, electrical safety, therapeutic uses of electromagnetic waves (forces between electric charges, electric circuits, resistance, capacitance, magnetic forces, electromagnetic waves). Radiation: Radiation safety, therapeutic uses of radiation (the atomic nucleus, isotopes, nuclear decay and radiation, physical and biological half-life, ionising radiation). Imaging: Modern biomedical imaging (X-rays, CT-scans and angiography, MRI, positron emission tomography).

A 3-hour end-of-semester written examination (65%); laboratory work together with a group project (25%); tests totalling up to two hours and/or written assignments during the semester, up to an equivalent of 2000 words (10%). Students must complete both laboratory and project work satisfactorily to obtain a pass.

• R A Serway and J W Jewett, Principles of Physics. 3rd edn, Harcourt, 2002.
• J Faughn, Life Science Applications for Physics. Harcourt, 1998.