Paper Description
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 is a text-book-based course, and the lectures and assignments are integrated with the text book. Self-directed learning is an important aspect of this course, and you are expected to prepare for lectures by reading specified sections from the text. The first module of the course is Mechanics, and the reading lists for this and the subsequent modules will be placed on Blackboard.
It is recommended that students enrolling in PHSI 191 have achieved the externally-examined Achievement Standards for NCEA Level 3 Physics.
The Blackboard web page is used to make announcements -- it is a good idea to check it regularly. Copies of the reading schedules, assignments and lecture material are also posted there.
Course Director:
Professor Craig Rodger
Course Coordinator:
Dr Terry Scott
Teaching Staff:
Assessment:
| Laboratories: Terms requirement |
| Laboratory Assessment Tests: 10% |
| Mid-Semester Exam: 20% |
| Final Exam: 70% |
| (A system of plussage applies to the Mid-Semester Exam.) |
The curriculum for 2021 can be found here
Timetable (for students in 2021, semester 1)
Most weeks you will have 3 one-hour lectures. The provisional timetable for 2021 has 2 lecture times, and you will be assigned to sessions at either 8 am/1 pm (on different days), or 11 am. The lectures are held on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.
There are 5 practical laboratory sessions during the course (each 3 hours). There are no PHSI 191 labs in the first week of classes. You will be streamed into a class starting at either 9 am, 2 pm, or 6 pm. There are no standard labs scheduled for Mondays (except when rescheduled from Good Friday or the last day of semester) or on Friday evenings, and no weekend classes at all.
When you apply to Otago and enrol in the course, the eVision system will assign you a potential timetable, but we should warn prospective students that this is quite likely to change. Until the number of students enrolled in all the Health Science papers is known, the planned lecture and lab times must be considered to be provisional only. We believe that the timetable will be finalised shortly before the start of the semester.
Lectures
| Topic | Number of Lectures |
|---|---|
| Maths for Physics | 4 lectures |
| Mechanics | 6 lectures |
| Solids and Fluids | 6 lectures |
| Thermodynamics | 5 lectures |
| Electricity | 5 lectures |
| Optics | 5 lectures |
| Radiation and Health | 5 lectures |
| Integrated Context Lectures | 4 lectures |
Laboratories
The laboratories are designed to teach you important laboratories skills and to reinforce concepts introduced in the lectures. Attending laboratories is a terms requirement. In addition, assessment tasks are associated with each laboratory and marked as part of the internal assessment.
| Topic |
|---|
| Measurement, Models, and Motion |
| Newton's Laws |
| Pressure and Buoyancy |
| Energy and Electricity in the Body |
| Light and Radiation |
Introduction to Biological Physics for the Health and Life Sciences, 2nd Edition by Franklin et al (Wiley 2019) can be purchased through the University Book Shop, though it can be found in stock in other shops or online from a number of sources. This book is published by Wiley (2019), and is available internationally. As PHSI 191 is a text-book-based course, the textbook is required.
The Summer School paper is intended for students who have passed their laboratory component in the Semester One PHSI 191 course but failed the paper overall. This paper will be similar to PHSI 191 Semester One, although there will be no laboratory component, and it will have significantly more tutorial-style contact. Having acquired the laboratory terms requirement in the first-semester paper is necessary to enrol in the summer paper, except in truly exceptional circumstances, such as interruptions caused by Covid-19. Enrolments will be typically be opened by the end of August.
The Blackboard web page is used to make announcements -- it is a good idea to check it regularly.
For more information on the Summer School, see the University's main page here.
Formal University Information
The following information is from the University’s corporate web site.
Details
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 Faculty 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.
| Paper title | Biological Physics |
|---|---|
| Paper code | PHSI191 |
| Subject | Physics |
| EFTS | 0.15 |
| Points | 18 points |
| Teaching period(s) | Summer School
(On campus)
Semester 1 (On campus) |
| Domestic Tuition Fees (NZD) | $1,141.35 |
| 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@otago.ac.nz
- More information link
- View further information for PHSI 191
- Teaching staff
Course Director: Professor Craig Rodger
Course Co-ordinator: Dr Terry Scott
Lecturers from the Department of PhysicsPHSI 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
