Outline

Overview

MRTY1031 is a Junior level unit designed specifically for students enrolled in the Bachelor of Applied Science (MRS) Diagnostic Radiography. It provides a basic knowledge and understanding of concepts in physics relevant to the use of ionising radiation in medicine - specifically X-rays. It presents an examination of the structure of matter, types of ionising radiation and their interactions with matter, all within the context of medical imaging and therapy.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Physics Academic Operations
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	HSC Physics and HSC Mathematics
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	John O'Byrne, john.obyrne@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Steven Meikle, steven.meikle@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	John O'Byrne, john.obyrne@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Supervised exam ?	Final examination Final examination	50%	Formal exam period	2 hours
Outcomes assessed:
Tutorial quiz	1st Pre-lecture quiz #earlyfeedbacktask Brief quiz on lecture 2 material	0.45%	Week 02 Due date: 27 Feb 2024 at 11:00 Closing date: 27 Feb 2024	~5 MCQs
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Studio lab 1 Results from Studio Lab session	2.78%	Week 03 Due date: 08 Mar 2024 at 23:59 Closing date: 15 Mar 2024	2 hours
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Studio lab 2 Results from Studio Lab session	2.78%	Week 04 Due date: 15 Mar 2024 at 23:59 Closing date: 22 Mar 2024	2 hours
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Studio lab 3 Results from Studio Lab session	2.78%	Week 05 Due date: 22 Mar 2024 at 23:59 Closing date: 29 Mar 2024	2 hours
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Assignment 1 Short answer assignment	10%	Week 06 Due date: 28 Mar 2024 at 23:59 Closing date: 07 Apr 2024	4-6 pages
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Studio lab 4 Results from Studio Lab session	2.78%	Week 06 Due date: 29 Mar 2024 at 23:59 Closing date: 05 Apr 2024	2 hours
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Studio lab 5 Results from Studio Lab session	2.78%	Week 08 Due date: 19 Apr 2024 at 23:59 Closing date: 26 Apr 2024	2 hours
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Studio lab 6 Results from Studio Lab session	2.78%	Week 09 Due date: 26 Apr 2024 at 23:59 Closing date: 03 May 2024	2 hours
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Studio lab 7 Results from Studio Lab session	2.78%	Week 11 Due date: 10 May 2024 at 23:59 Closing date: 17 May 2024	2 hours
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Assignment 2 Short answer assignment	10%	Week 12 Due date: 17 May 2024 at 23:59 Closing date: 27 May 2024	4-6 pages
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Studio lab 8 Results from Studio Lab session	2.78%	Week 12 Due date: 17 May 2024 at 23:59 Closing date: 24 May 2024	2 hours
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Studio lab 9 Results from Studio Lab session	2.76%	Week 13 Due date: 24 May 2024 at 23:59 Closing date: 31 May 2024	2 hours
Outcomes assessed:
Tutorial quiz	Pre-lecture quizzes Brief quizzes on lecture material	4.55%	Weekly	Typically ~5 MCQs
Outcomes assessed:
= hurdle task ?

Early feedback task

This unit includes an early feedback task, designed to give you feedback prior to the census date for this unit. Details are provided in the Canvas site and your result will be recorded in your Marks page. It is important that you actively engage with this task so that the University can support you to be successful in this unit.

Assessment summary

Below are brief assessment details. Further information can be found in the Canvas site for this unit.

Assignments

There are two assignments, each consisting of several questions. The assignments are designed to help you develop problem-solving skills, practice written answers and obtain some progressive feedback.

We encourage students to discuss assignments, but we will NOT accept assignments that are simply copied between students or from any other source. You should write your final answers independently, expressing the answers in your own words and with your own working. Allowing your work to be copied is unfair to other students and ultimately, does not help the student copying from your work.

AI systems like ChatGPT may seem to be an easy way of generating text that can be presented as your own in an Assignment. It is academically dishonest to use such AI systems and seek to present this as your own work. However, it may be useful to use AI to collect information about a topic as a first step towards writing your own answer, much as you might use Wikipedia.

The problem-based assignments typical of this unit are different to more essay-based assignments in other disciplines. References are generally NOT necessary unless you use a direct quote from a source. If you do reference a source, choose any style of referencing you normally use providing it is clear.

The Assignments contribute 20% directly to your final mark.

Pre-lecture Quizzes

Pre-lecture quizzes will consist of several questions delivered on-line using the Canvas system. They are intended to encourage you to prepare for lectures by reading the textbook and any notes we supply and test your understanding of material to be covered in the lectures in the coming week. Answers will be apparent from the relevant sections of the reading. You do not need to get every answer right, but only a serious attempt at a quiz will be regarded as satisfactory completion of the quiz.

The Pre-lecture quizzes contribute 5% directly to your final mark.

Workshop Tutorials

Workshop Tutorials are an important part of success in this Unit of Study because they make you think through the material and provide experience in answering the style of questions that may appear in the Final Exam.

Workshop Tutorials are not assessed and do not contribute to your final mark.

Studio Lab Sessions

Assessment in the studio lab sessions is based on successful completion of experimental and simulation tasks and other activities conducted in the sessions. You are awarded marks for satisfactorily completing each activity and and submitting the results.

The Studio Lab submissions contribute 25% directly to your final mark.

Final Examination

A two-hour examination covering the material included in the unit of study is held at the end of the semester. You will be asked to write descriptive answers to questions, to explain physical principles and to answer quantitative questions, all aimed at demonstrating your progress in achieving the goals of the unit. An ability to memorise formulae and manipulate them without understanding the associated concepts will not be rewarded. The final exam will cover material from the entire unit.

See the Sample Exam papers in the Canvas pages for this unit for an accurate indication of the exam structure.

The Final Examination contributes 50% directly to your final mark.

Note that attempting the final examination is required for a pass in this unit.

If you miss the final exam for any reason you should submit an application for Special Consideration to request a replacement exam in the same format.

If a second replacement exam is required, this exam may be delivered via an alternative assessment method, such as a viva voce (oral exam). The alternative assessment will meet the same learning outcomes as the original exam. The format of the alternative assessment will be determined by the unit coordinator.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100	Representing complete or close to complete mastery of the material.
Distinction	75 - 84	Representing excellence, but less than complete mastery.
Credit	65 - 74	Representing a creditable performance that goes beyond routine knowledge and understanding, but less than excellence.
Pass	50 - 64	Representing at least routine knowledge and understanding over a spectrum of topics and important ideas and concepts in the course.
Fail	0 - 49	When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

The grading system used in this unit of study has changed from previous semesters to be a simple addition of various assessment components.

Your final grade will be based principally on your performance in one examination-style assessment where you are clearly working by yourself:

final exam (50%)

Other contributions to your final mark are:

assignment 1 (10%)
assignment 2 (10%)
studio lab submissions (25%)
pre-lecture quizzes (5%)

For example:

If you were not fully engaged during semester, you might complete only 7/11 of the pre-lecture quizzes and get a mark of 22/45 for the Studio labs. These might be added to better marks of 45/60 in the assignments and 44/70 in the final exam. Of course, if you have a valid reason for missing any assessment which is approved via the Special Consideration process, your marks will be adjusted to allow for this.

Your total mark is the sum of these weighted according to the percentages give above – i.e. final exam (31.4/50%) + assignments (15/20%) + studio labs (12.2/25%) + pre-lecture quizzes (3.2/5%) = a final mark of 61.8 = a final grade of 62 PS.

Of course a poor mark in the final exam could easily turn this into a Fail! The way to succeed in this unit is to do well in each component of the unit (as always) and to complete most (preferably all) of the assessments during semester.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

As an example, on an assignment given a mark of 7/10, the penalty would be 0.5 marks if submitted up to 24 hours late, resulting in a final mark of 6.5/10. If the assignment is submitted 6 days late, the penalty would be 3 marks and the final mark would be 4/10. If you have difficulty submitting an assessment on time, you should submit an application for Special Consideration. A Simple Extension of up to five working days on Assignments and Studio Lab submissions is also available through the special consideration portal, or for Quizzes may be negotiated with the unit coordinator. However, in this unit, negotiated Simple Extensions will only rarely be granted since justifiable reasons for extension should usually be eligible for Special Consideration.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Lecture 1: Introduction	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 02	Lecture 2: Waves and EM Radiation	Lecture (2 hr)
	Workshop 1: Basic Physics, Waves and Electromagnetic Radiation	Tutorial (1 hr)
	Studio Lab 1: Waves, Standing Waves and the Speed of Sound	Studio (2 hr)
Week 03	Lecture 3: Light, Spectral lines and Atomic Structure	Lecture (2 hr)
	Workshop 2: Atomic Structure	Tutorial (1 hr)
	Studio Lab 2: Atoms and spectrum I	Studio (2 hr)
Week 04	Lecture 4: Better Atomic Models and Making X-rays	Lecture (2 hr)
	Workshop 3: Atomic Theory and Spectra	Tutorial (1 hr)
	Studio Lab 3: Atoms and spectrum II	Studio (2 hr)
Week 05	Lecture 5: Forces on Charges	Lecture (2 hr)
	Workshop 4: Charges in Electric Fields	Tutorial (1 hr)
	Studio Lab 4: Charges in E and B-fields	Studio (2 hr)
Week 06	Lecture 6: More on Magnetism, plus Currents and Electrical Power	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 07	Lecture 7: X-ray tube and x-ray production	Lecture (2 hr)
	Workshop 5: Magnetic Fields and Circuits	Tutorial (1 hr)
	Studio Lab 5: Electric circuits	Studio (2 hr)
Week 08	Lecture 8: X-ray Attenuation	Lecture (2 hr)
	Workshop 6: X-rays tubes and x-ray production	Tutorial (1 hr)
	Studio Lab 6: X-ray scattering	Studio (2 hr)
Week 10	Lecture 9: Attenuation and Radiation Dosimetry	Lecture (2 hr)
	Workshop 7: X-rays in the body – Absorption and scattering	Tutorial (1 hr)
	Studio Lab 7: X-ray attenuation	Studio (2 hr)
Week 11	Lecture 10: X-ray Image capture	Lecture (2 hr)
	Workshop 8: X-ray attenuation	Tutorial (1 hr)
	Studio Lab 8: Imaging with Lenses	Studio (2 hr)
Week 12	Lecture 11: X-ray Image Quality	Lecture (2 hr)
	Workshop 9: X-ray imaging	Tutorial (1 hr)
	Studio Lab 9: Imaging and Image Quality	Studio (2 hr)
Week 13	Lecture 12: X-ray imaging	Lecture (2 hr)

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

All readings for this unit can be accessed on the Library Reading List link available in the Canvas site menu for this unit.

Textbook: Essential Physics for Radiographers, 4th Edition (2008), John Ball, Adrian D. Moore and Steve Turner, Blackwell Publishing.
Recommended Reference: Radiological Science for Technologists, 11th edn, S C Boshung, Elsevier 2016 (or earlier editions).
Recommended Reference: The Essential Physics of Medical Imaging, 4th edn, J T Bushberg et al., Lippincott Williams & Wilkins publishing 2020 (or earlier editions).

For the first module of this unit, Where do X-rays come from?, you may also find it useful to consult current HSC Physics textbooks or one of the current Junior Physics textbooks:

College Physics: A Strategic Approach, Knight, Jones and Field, Pearson Addison Wesley.
University Physics (with Modern Physics), Hugh D Young and Roger A Freedman, Addison-Wesley.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. understand the key physics concepts related to ionising radiation - the origins and properties of ionising radiation, the production of radiation, particularly in x-ray tubes, the effects of x-rays on tissue, and the use of x-rays in diagnostic imaging
LO2. apply these concepts to develop models, and solve qualitative and quantitative problems in the radiographic context
LO3. understand the nature of scientific measurement and basic experimental skills in the measurement of physical quantities and the analysis of experimental data
LO4. find and analyse information and judge its reliability and significance
LO5. communicate scientific information appropriately, both orally and through written work
LO6. engage in team and group work for scientific investigations and for the process of learning
LO7. demonstrate a sense of responsibility, ethical behaviour and independence as a learner and as a scientist.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Alignment with Competency standards

Outcomes	Competency standards
	Professional capabilities for medical radiation practice - 1.3.b. Understand the modalities and equipment used in the different imaging and treatment pathways across medical radiation practice. 1A.1.a. Operate projection radiography systems safely and effectively in a range of settings. 1A.1.c. Use standard radiographic projections and exposure factors for the patient’s/client’s body area being examined and, when appropriate, modify them to consider patient/client presentation, clinical indications and mechanisms of injury. 1A.1.d. Select appropriate equipment, receptor type and set equipment geometry for the examination. 1A.2.d. Apply knowledge of equipment geometry for procedures. 1A.2.e. Apply knowledge of imaging acquisition modes and radiation dose rates. Domain 5.1.c. Apply knowledge of radiobiology and medical radiation physics to examinations/treatment. Domain 5.1.d. Apply knowledge of radiobiology and radiation dose adjustment to deliver safe and effective patient/client outcomes.
	Professional capabilities for medical radiation practice - Domain 5.1.c. Apply knowledge of radiobiology and medical radiation physics to examinations/treatment. Domain 5.1.d. Apply knowledge of radiobiology and radiation dose adjustment to deliver safe and effective patient/client outcomes.
	Professional capabilities for medical radiation practice - Domain 5.1.c. Apply knowledge of radiobiology and medical radiation physics to examinations/treatment. Domain 5.1.d. Apply knowledge of radiobiology and radiation dose adjustment to deliver safe and effective patient/client outcomes.
	Professional capabilities for medical radiation practice - Domain 5.1.c. Apply knowledge of radiobiology and medical radiation physics to examinations/treatment. Domain 5.1.d. Apply knowledge of radiobiology and radiation dose adjustment to deliver safe and effective patient/client outcomes.
	Professional capabilities for medical radiation practice - 1A.2.b. Effectively communicate with the multidisciplinary team as the imaging request, patient history and previous medical images are reviewed, the patient is assessed to receive care and the procedure is planned. Domain 3.1.b. Communicate effectively with the patient/client (and at times beyond the patient/client) to collect and convey information about the proposed examination/treatment. Domain 5.2.b. Review, communicate, record and manage patient/client information accurately, consistent with protocols, procedures and legislative requirements for maintaining patient/client records. National Safety and Quality Health Service - 6. Communicating for Safety Standard
	Professional capabilities for medical radiation practice - 1A.2.b. Effectively communicate with the multidisciplinary team as the imaging request, patient history and previous medical images are reviewed, the patient is assessed to receive care and the procedure is planned. Domain 3.1.b. Communicate effectively with the patient/client (and at times beyond the patient/client) to collect and convey information about the proposed examination/treatment.
	Professional capabilities for medical radiation practice - Domain 4.1.d. Recognise opportunities to contribute to the development of new knowledge through research and enquiry.

National Safety and Quality Health Service -

Competency code	Taught, Practiced or Assessed	Competency standard
6		Communicating for Safety Standard

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

We welcome comments on all aspects of this unit. You should feel free to talk to your lecturers, tutors or the Unit Coordinator A/Prof. John O’Byrne at any time. There is also a formal opportunity for feedback via the USS questionnaire for this unit, available online towards the end of semester. As a result of student feedback and other initiatives there have been a number of changes in this unit in recent years. For example, last year an In-semester Test was removed reduce assessment load. This year, the only significant change is the introduction University-wide of an early assessment task to ensure student engagement early in the semester. In this unit, that is the first pre-lecture quiz, but these quizzes have always been used to have you thinking about the lecture material before the lecture.

Additional information

Equity Access and Diversity statement

The School of Physics recognises that biases and discrimination, including but not limited to those based on gender, race, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion and age, continue to impact parts of our community disproportionately. Consequently, the School is strongly committed to taking effective steps to make our environment supportive and inclusive and one that provides equity of access and opportunity for everyone.

The School has Equity Officers as a point of contact for students and staff who may have a query or concern about any issues relating to equity, access and diversity. If you feel you have been treated unfairly, discriminated against, bullied or disadvantaged in any way, you are encouraged to talk to one of the Equity Officers or any member of the Physics staff.

More information can be found at https://sydney.edu.au/science/schools/school-of-physics/equity-access-diversity.html

Any student who feels they may need a special accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact Disability Services (https://www.sydney.edu.au/students/health-wellbeing/inclusion-and-disability.html ) who can help arrange support.

Work, health and safety

Closed-in shoes are required in Studio Labs, but there are no other special requirements.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Early feedback task

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Alignment with Competency standards

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

MRTY1031: Medical Radiation Physics

Semester 1, 2024 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Early feedback task

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Alignment with Competency standards

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links