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Physics for Biomedicine (PHYC10007)
Undergraduate level 1Points: 12.5Dual-Delivery (Parkville)
Please refer to the return to campus page for more information on these delivery modes and students who can enrol in each mode based on their location.
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Semester 2
Director of First Year Studies
Email: dfys@physics.unimelb.edu.au
Overview
Availability | Semester 1 - Dual-Delivery Semester 2 - Dual-Delivery |
---|---|
Fees | Look up fees |
This subject will develop students' appreciation of the importance of physical principles to biomedicine as well as their understanding of the principles underpinning human structure and function, medical diagnostics and therapeutics. Lectures for this subject contain an extensive range of live in-lecture demonstrations where many of the topics are demonstrated with experiments using apparatus from the School of Physics collection.
Physics for Biomedicine provides the fundamental physics concepts required to understand many biological and medical applications. By taking this subject you will study the mechanics behind the movement of the human body, the physical principles of various human systems and the biophysics that underpin cell biology. You will also learn concepts central to medical imaging and diagnostics. Physics for Biomedicine will help you develop your problem solving and laboratory skills in the context of the medical applications of physics.
Intended learning outcomes
To enable students to understand the importance of physical principles to biological and environmental sciences, and develop their capacity to:
- understand and explain the physics principles of fluids, electricity and magnetism, atomic, radiation and imaging physics;
- apply these principles using logical reasoning, together with appropriate mathematical reasoning, to a variety of familiar and novel situations and problems in the biological and environmental sciences; and
- acquire experimental data using a range of measurement instruments and interpret these data.
Generic skills
A student who completes this subject should be able to:
- explain their understanding of physics principles and applications lucidly, both in writing and orally;
- acquire and interpret experimental data and design experimental investigations;
- participate as an effective member of a group in tutorial discussions, laboratory and study groups;
- think independently and analytically, and direct his or her own learning;
- manage time effectively in order to be prepared for regular practical and tutorial classes, tests and the examination.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
MAST10012 | Introduction to Mathematics | No longer available |
OR
VCE Unit 3/4 Mathematical Methods
OR
Admission into the B-BMED Bachelor of Biomedicine
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
PHYC10009 | Foundations of Physics | No longer available |
Students who have completed VCE Unit 3/4 Physics (with a score of 25 or more) will not be permitted to enrol in this subject.
Recommended background knowledge
Assumed knowledge: some knowledge of Physics to Year 10 level.
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Assessment
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Assessment of practical work (Please see below) Hurdle requirement: Satisfactory completion of practical work is necessary to pass the subject (i.e. attendance and submission of work for at least 80% of workshop sessions together with a result for assessed work of at least 50%). | Throughout the semester | 25% |
Ten weekly assignments (10 x 1.5 = 15%)
| From Week 3 to Week 12 | 15% |
A written examination
| During the examination period | 60% |
Additional details
Assessment of practical work throughout the semester (25%) consisting of:
- Practicals: practical experiment and written report due at the end of each lab, throughout semester (every second week), 3.125% each (2.5 hours per laboratory session)
- Take Home Group Experiment: group report due 2 weeks after obtaining equipment, second half of semester, 3.125% (3 hours)
- Mobile App Review: peer assessed review in form of short report, Week 10, 3.125% (3 hours)
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Dates & times
- Semester 1
Mode of delivery Dual-Delivery (Parkville) Contact hours Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 1 March 2021 to 30 May 2021 Last self-enrol date 12 March 2021 Census date 31 March 2021 Last date to withdraw without fail 7 May 2021 Assessment period ends 25 June 2021 - Semester 2
Principal coordinator Roger Rassool Mode of delivery Dual-Delivery (Parkville) Contact hours 3 x one hour lectures per week; 1 x one hour tutorial per week; practical work (6 x 2.5 hour laboratory sessions) Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 26 July 2021 to 24 October 2021 Last self-enrol date 6 August 2021 Census date 31 August 2021 Last date to withdraw without fail 24 September 2021 Assessment period ends 19 November 2021 Semester 2 contact information
Director of First Year Studies
Email: dfys@physics.unimelb.edu.au
Time commitment details
Estimated total time commitment of 170 hours Note: this will include practical work of up to 30 minutes of pre-laboratory activity for every laboratory session plus up to 6 hours of laboratory assignments.
Additional delivery details
This subject requires all students to actively and safely participate in laboratory activities.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Introduction to Biological Physics for the Health and Life Sciences, 2nd Edition, Kirsten Franklin, Paul Muir, Terry Scott, Paul Yates, Wiley: ISBN: 978-1-118-93448-7
- Subject notes
This unit is only available to students enrolled in the Bachelor of Biomedicine.
To prevent repetition of content, students who have completed VCE Unit 3/4 Physics, or equivalent, normally will not be permitted to enrol in this subject.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Bachelor of Biomedicine - Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Last updated: 3 November 2022