OCR AAQ in Applied Science: P3: Medical Physics

Course: OCR Level 3 Alternative Academic Qualification Cambridge Advanced Nationals in Applied Science.

Topic Area 3: Medical Physics

• 3.1 - X-rays and ultrasound
• 3.2 -3.2 Radioactivity

These PowerPoints is a whole lessons included with student activities and animated answers.

• Electron transitions
• Ground state, excited state, and ionised state
• The similarities and differences between the types of electromagnetic (EM) radiation, including in terms of production, penetration, uses, frequency and wavelength
• Know the definition of a quantum and a photon
• Use of the equations:
  • Energy of a photon (J) = Planck constant (J s) × frequency (Hz)
  • Energy of a photon (J) = Planck constant (J s) × speed of light in a vacuum (ms–1) / wavelength (m)
• Basic structure of an X-ray tube including: heater (cathode), anode, target metal and high voltage supply
• How X-rays are produced in an X-ray tube, including thermionic emission and energy transfers
• How tube current and voltage affects the X-ray beam
• Attenuation of X-rays by absorption and scattering
• Use of the attenuation of X-rays equation to calculate intensity
• Know mass attenuation coefficient
• Use of the mass attenuation coefficient equation.
• Examples of longitudinal and transverse waves including sound waves and electromagnetic waves
• Graphical representations of longitudinal and transverse waves
• Describe wave motion in terms of displacement, amplitude, wavelength, time period, frequency and wave speed.
• Describe the relationship between intensity and amplitude
• Use of the equations:
  • Frequency
  • Wave speed
  • Intensity
• Know definition of ultrasound, including in medical contexts
• Reflection, and transmission of ultrasound
• Know that a transducer can both transmit pulses and receive reflected pulses
• Attenuation of ultrasound by absorption and scattering
• Impedance matching and coupling mediums
• How to interpret and use A-scans to solve problems
• Use of the equations:
  • Density equation
  • Acoustic impedance equation
  • Intensity reflection coefficient equation
• The spontaneous and random nature of nuclear radioactive decay
• Know types of decay
• Properties of nuclear radiation (alpha, beta and gamma)
• Nuclear decay equations
• Know how to graphically determine the physical half-life of an isotope
• Biological, physical and effective half-lives
• Use of the activity equation
• Use of the equations to determine N/N0/A/A0
• Use of the effective half-life equation
• Irradiation and contamination
• Physiological effects of radiation
• Mechanism of direct and indirect ionisation of biological molecules
• Absorbed and effective dose
• Ionisation and half-equations
• Know the definition of radiopharmaceuticals
• Use of radionuclides in sterilisation, cancer treatments and medical tracers
• How to select a radionuclide for an appropriate use