PHYS1702 Physics for Health Sciences

This topic provides an introduction to Physics with an emphasis on applications in the Health Sciences (Medicine, Optometry, etc.). The topic material covers the following basic areas of physical phenomena.

1. Motion, Forces, and Energy:measurement, vectors, kinematics (displacement, velocity, acceleration, gravity, projectile motion), dynamics (force, Newton's Laws, free-body diagrams, static equilibrium), work and energy
2. Fluids:Density, Pressure, Archimedes' Principle, surface tension, capillarity, Bernoulli's equation, Torricelli's theorem, viscosity, Poiseuille's equation
3. Oscillations and Waves:Hooke's law, simple harmonic motion, pendulum, forced oscillations, resonance, wave superposition, reflection, transmission, interference, standing waves
4. Sound:decibels, beats, Doppler Effect, ultrasound
5. Light:nature of light, reflection, refraction, spectrum, dispersion, plane and spherical mirrors, lenses, Gaussain optics, Interference, Diffraction
6. Electromagnectism:charge, Coulomb's Law, electric field, electic potential, electric current, magnetic field, Lorentz force, electric motor, electromagnetic waves
7. Quantum Phenomena:Blackbody radiation, Planck's hypothesis, photoelectric effect, photons, Compton effect, pair production, wave nature of matter, Bohr model, atomic spectra

This topic aims to:

• Teach students the basic physics principles and techniques important for the understanding of a broad range of physical phenomena in the Health Sciences
• Develop problem-solving skills
• Develop laboratory skills
• Encourage critical analysis

1. Demonstrate an understanding of the physics concepts underlying the material discussed in the topic
2. Develop models to apply to physical phenomena in the Health Sciences, and express these in the language of mathematics
3. Recognise the strengths and limitations of models used to describe physical phenomena
4. Solve selected problems, and interpret and critically analyse the results obtained
5. Design and perform laboratory investigations, and compare results to predictions of an appropriate model
6. Communicate their physics knowledge effectively