BMS1031 is not in the 2027 Handbook - Monash may have renumbered or withdrawn it. This is what the 2026 Handbook published; check the 2027 Handbook or your faculty before planning next year.
Units / BMS1031
BMS1031 · Medical biophysics
2026 Handbook6 credit pointsLevel 1School of Biomedical Sciences
Overview
This unit will introduce you to the fundamental role of physics in how the body functions. Throughout the semester, you will learn key principals of physics, and apply this knowledge to physiological processes. The concepts will be explored through experimentation and creation of simple models. The concepts studied include the flow of fluids (such as blood and air) in the body, the mechanics of the musculoskeletal system, electrical signals within the brain and nervous system, and the optics involved in vision. These concepts will be explored through a range of scales - from atomic through to whole body systems. By understanding the key principals of physics which govern how our bodies function, you will have gained a solid foundation for further study in the biomedical sciences.
Offerings
| Campus | Teaching period | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Clayton | First semester | Teaching activities are on-campus (ON-CAMPUS) |
Assessment
The Handbook lists an examination for this unit.
| # | Assessment | Type | Weight | Hurdle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Written examination (2 hours and 10 minutes) | Examination | 30% | Threshold |
| 2 | Practical work | Demonstration | 40% | — |
| 3 | In-class activities and online tests | Examination | 30% | — |
Assessment in this unit includes hurdle assessment tasks. Failure of any hurdle assessment task may result in failure of the unit.
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Requisites
Learning outcomes
- Explain and apply relevant physics principles to human physiology and biomedical contexts
- Identify physical factors that should be considered when analysing physiological systems
- Perform basic experiments, conduct reliable measurements, analyse data and interpret results
- Accurately communicate scientific information in written and graphical forms
- Use critical thinking to apply physics principles and models to physiological problems
Workload
The workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours spread across the semester (roughly 12 hours per week) - approximately an even mixture of attendance at scheduled activities and self-scheduled study time. Learning activities comprise a mixture of instructor directed, peer directed and self-directed learning, which includes face-to-face and online engagement.
| Activity | Duration |
|---|---|
| Workshops | 24 hours |
| Laboratories | 24 hours |
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