Red X iconGreen tick iconYellow tick icon

    Overview

    Foundations of physics for the health sciences including mechanics, properties of fluids and solids, thermodynamics, optics, electrostatics and DC circuits, and radiation and health.

    PHSI 191 first semester and PHSI 191 Summer School:
    Physics is central to an understanding of biomedical science. The aim of this paper is to provide the base concepts of physics necessary for studies in the health and life sciences as clearly as possible. The content of this paper has been chosen in close collaboration with the clinicians and academics in the Division of Health Science. PHSI 191 is a required part of the Health Sciences First Year programme at Otago and is a prerequisite paper for a number of other science papers.

    About this paper

    Paper title Biological Physics
    Subject Physics
    EFTS 0.15
    Points 18 points
    Teaching period(s) Summer School (On campus)
    Semester 1 (On campus)
    Domestic Tuition Fees ( NZD ) $1,173.30
    International Tuition Fees Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website.
    Restriction
    PHSI 110 and PHSI 131
    Schedule C
    Science
    Notes
    (i) It is strongly recommended that students enrolling in PHSI191 have achieved the externally examined Achievement Standards for NCEA Level 3 Physics. (ii) PHSI191 may only be taken at Summer School by students who were enrolled in PHSI191 in the first semester of the previous year, and passed the laboratory assessment but failed the paper as a whole.
    Eligibility

    PHSI 191 first semester:
    There are no specific entry requirements for students taking PHSI 191, but it is recommended that students achieved the externally examined Achievement Standards for NCEA Level 3 Physics (or hold an equivalent qualification).

    PHSI 191 Summer School:
    The Summer School version of PHSI 191 is only available to students who have enrolled for and failed the first-semester version in the previous year. Students would normally be required to have passed the laboratory component of the first-semester version of the paper in the previous year.

    Summer School enrolments for this paper require departmental permission. View more information about departmental permission.

    Contact

    Physics Office

    Teaching staff

    Course Director: Professor Craig Rodger
    Course Co-ordinator: Dr Terry Scott
    Lecturers from the Department of Physics

    PHSI 191 Summer School:
    Course Co-ordinators: Professor Craig Rodger, Dr Terry Scott
    Lecturers from the Department of Physics

    Paper Structure

    PHSI 191 first semester and PHSI 191 Summer School:
    The paper covers physics topics relevant to biology, arranged in the following modules:

    • Overview of mathematical techniques
    • Mechanics of movement
    • Macroscopic properties of fluids and solids
    • Thermodynamics
    • Electrostatics and DC circuits
    • Optics
    • Radiation and health
    Teaching Arrangements

    PHSI 191 first semester:
    The paper comprises 36 lectures. There are five compulsory 3-hour laboratories and five laboratory assessment tests. A progress test will be held around the middle of the course.

    Assessment:

    • Laboratory assessment tests 10%
    • Progress test 20% (plussage applies)
    • Final Exam 70%

     

    PHSI 191 Summer School:
    The paper comprises 23 2-hour lectures/tutorial sessions. There are six Lab Assessment Tests. A mid-course Progress Test will be held about halfway through the course. The laboratory grade is carried over from the first-semester course.

    Assessment:

    • Lab Assessment Tests 10%
    • Progress Test 20% (plussage applies)
    • Final Exam 70%
    Textbooks

    PHSI 191 first semester and PHSI 191 Summer School:
    Required: Introduction to Biological Physics for the Health and Life Sciences, 2nd Edition, by Franklin et al. (Wiley 2019).

    Course outline
    View course outline for PHSI 191
    Graduate Attributes Emphasised
    Interdisciplinary perspective, Lifelong learning, Critical thinking, Self-motivation, Teamwork.
    View more information about Otago's graduate attributes.
    Learning Outcomes
    PHSI 191 first semester and PHSI 191 Summer School:
    • Apply an understanding of physical principles to biological systems
    • Use algebraic techniques to calculate the predicted value of physical quantities
    • Use a knowledge of physical principles to predict and rationalise the outcome of physical interactions
    • Carry out basic data collection and analysis tasks in the laboratory

    Timetable

    Summer School

    Location
    Dunedin
    Teaching method
    This paper is taught On Campus
    Learning management system
    Blackboard

    Lecture

    Stream Days Times Weeks
    Attend
    L1 Monday 13:00-14:50 2-5, 7
    Tuesday 13:00-14:50 2-5, 7
    Wednesday 13:00-14:50 6
    Thursday 13:00-14:50 2-7
    Friday 13:00-14:50 2-7

    Semester 1

    Location
    Dunedin
    Teaching method
    This paper is taught On Campus
    Learning management system
    Blackboard

    Lecture

    Stream Days Times Weeks
    Attend one stream from
    A1 Monday 08:00-08:50 9-13, 15-21
    Tuesday 08:00-08:50 9-13, 15-22
    Thursday 13:00-13:50 9-13, 15-16, 18-22
    A4 Monday 11:00-11:50 9-13, 15-21
    Tuesday 11:00-11:50 9-13, 15-22
    Thursday 11:00-11:50 9-13, 15-16, 18-22
    A5 Monday 11:00-11:50 9-13, 15-18, 20-21
    Tuesday 11:00-11:50 9-13, 15-22
    Thursday 11:00-11:50 9-13, 15-16, 18-22

    Practical

    Stream Days Times Weeks
    Attend one stream from
    P1 Tuesday 09:00-11:50 10, 12, 15, 19, 21
    P2 Tuesday 09:00-11:50 11, 13, 16, 20, 22
    P3 Tuesday 09:00-11:50 10, 12, 15, 19, 21
    P4 Tuesday 09:00-11:50 11, 13, 16, 20, 22
    P5 Tuesday 14:00-16:50 10, 12, 15, 19, 21
    P6 Tuesday 14:00-16:50 11, 13, 16, 20, 22
    P7 Tuesday 14:00-16:50 10, 12, 15, 19, 21
    P8 Tuesday 14:00-16:50 11, 13, 16, 20, 22
    P9 Tuesday 18:00-20:50 10, 12, 15, 19, 21
    P10 Tuesday 18:00-20:50 11, 13, 16, 20, 22
    P13 Wednesday 09:00-11:50 10, 12, 15, 19, 21
    P14 Wednesday 09:00-11:50 11, 13, 16, 20, 22
    P15 Wednesday 09:00-11:50 10, 12, 15, 19, 21
    P16 Wednesday 09:00-11:50 11, 13, 16, 20, 22
    P17 Wednesday 14:00-16:50 10, 12, 15, 19, 21
    P18 Wednesday 14:00-16:50 11, 13, 16, 20, 22
    P19 Wednesday 14:00-16:50 10, 12, 15, 19, 21
    P20 Wednesday 14:00-16:50 11, 13, 16, 20, 22
    P21 Wednesday 18:00-20:50 10, 12, 15, 19, 21
    P22 Wednesday 18:00-20:50 11, 13, 16, 20, 22
    P25 Thursday 09:00-11:50 10, 12, 15, 19, 21
    P26 Thursday 09:00-11:50 11, 13, 16, 20, 22
    P27 Thursday 09:00-11:50 10, 12, 15, 19, 21
    P28 Thursday 09:00-11:50 11, 13, 16, 20, 22
    P29 Thursday 14:00-16:50 10, 12, 15, 19, 21
    P30 Thursday 14:00-16:50 11, 13, 16, 20, 22
    P31 Thursday 14:00-16:50 10, 12, 15, 19, 21
    P32 Thursday 14:00-16:50 11, 13, 16, 20, 22
    P33 Thursday 18:00-20:50 10, 12, 15, 19, 21
    P34 Thursday 18:00-20:50 11, 13, 16, 20, 22
    P37 Friday 09:00-11:50 10, 12, 15, 19, 21
    P38 Monday 09:00-11:50 13, 22
    Friday 09:00-11:50 11, 16, 20
    P39 Friday 09:00-11:50 10, 12, 15, 19, 21
    P40 Monday 09:00-11:50 13, 22
    Friday 09:00-11:50 11, 16, 20
    P41 Friday 14:00-16:50 10, 12, 15, 19, 21
    P42 Monday 14:00-16:50 13, 22
    Friday 14:00-16:50 11, 16, 20
    P43 Friday 14:00-16:50 10, 12, 15, 19, 21
    P44 Monday 14:00-16:50 13, 22
    Friday 14:00-16:50 11, 16, 20

    Terms Test (Streamed)

    Stream Days Times Weeks
    Attend one stream from
    A1 Wednesday 19:00-19:50 17
    A2 Wednesday 19:00-19:50 17
    A3 Wednesday 19:00-19:50 17
    A4 Wednesday 19:00-19:50 17
    A5 Wednesday 19:00-19:50 17
    A6 Wednesday 19:00-19:50 17
    A7 Wednesday 19:00-19:50 17
    A8 Wednesday 19:00-19:50 17
    A9 Wednesday 19:00-19:50 17
    A10 Wednesday 19:00-19:50 17
    A11 Wednesday 19:00-19:50 17
    A12 Wednesday 19:00-19:50 17
    A13 Wednesday 19:00-19:50 17
    A14 Wednesday 19:00-19:50 17
    Back to top