PHYC10120 Physics in Medicine

Academic Year 2022/2023

This is the first of two physics modules that forms the core material for Stage 1 Medical and BHLS students. It addresses the fundamentals of mechanics, energy, fluids, heat, sound and light. This is the foundation in physics that is required for a continued learning in physics and technology, both in further courses and self-directed through a medical career.

Show/hide contentOpenClose All

Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module you will have a grounding in the principles of mechanics, energy, fluids, heat, sound and light. This will equip you with the fundamental physics required for a continued learning in physics and technology, both in more advanced courses and in independent learning throughout your medical career.




Indicative Module Content:

Content is presented in four themes: 1) Mechanics; 2) Energy, Momentum and Torque; 3) Fluids and Heat; 4) Waves, Sound and Light.

Maths underpins science. We pull upon basic calculus, trigonometry, exponentials and logarithms, vectors and graphing. For those who haven’t done hons-maths or physics before, or if you’re a bit rusty, you have an early activity. Go through 'Prestart Maths' linked to from our Brightspace before the module starts.

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

24
Tutorial

10
Practical

8
Autonomous Student Learning

78
Total

120
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Interaction and independent thought are the two most powerful tools in science. We employ a hybrid structure, mixing interaction in class with independent learning from materials online.

Interactively, in class, I highlight (overview) new materials each week and I encourage your questions live. In the following session weekly, we solve typical examples of problems together and I encourage your questions live. In addition, you have a weekly tutorial focused to problem solving. Questions are welcome by email too, well in advance of any session.

Independently, as homework, you'll annotate materials provided and read from the recommended text, pulling on the video material that's linked throughout the materials. You'll work weekly on numerate problems, and you'll write up reports based on lab experiments that are rooted in independent observation. In follow up to independent working, it may work well for you to come together informally in small groups to compare notes and assist each other.

Assessment is independent and continuous through the semester. Some takes the form of quizzes held on Brightspace, some is in class, and some is hybrid. The upside to this structure is no final examination during the December exam period. Yay!

 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Recommendations:

Honours Mathematics Leaving Cert (Ireland) or equivalent
Leaving Certificate Physics or equivalent


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Incompatibles:
PHYC10010 - Physics I, PHYC10020 - Physics of the Cell for lifesc, PHYC10030 - Physics of Macro-organisms, PHYC10060 - Fields, Waves & Light, PHYC10070 - Foundations of Physics, PHYC10080 - Frontiers of Physics, PHYC10090 - Physics II, PHYC10150 - Physics for Engineers I, PHYC10160 - Physics for Engineers II, PHYC10180 - Physics for Ag. Science, PHYC10190 - Aspects of Physics for Ag. Sci, PHYC20080 - Fields, Waves and Light


 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Lab Report: Laboratory practicals Throughout the Trimester n/a Graded No

15
Continuous Assessment: MCQ Throughout the Trimester n/a Graded No

85

Carry forward of passed components
No
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring Yes - 2 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Group/class feedback, post-assessment
• Online automated feedback

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Results are posted on Brightspace. We then address concerns and work through solutions to questions in a post-discussion session held after each assessment that is driven by your questions.

Read the following textbook and attempt problems from it in sync with this module. This is also the main text for your second semester module, Phys in Med II.

Recommended text: ‘Physics, Principles with Applications’, by Douglas C. Giancoli (7th Edition, Pearson)

Approach me if any questions about books.