Physics · AQA 7408 · Option B · Topic 3.10

Medical physics

Option: the eye and ear, ECGs, ultrasound, endoscopes, X-rays and nuclear medicine.

  • 19 sub-topics
  • Taught in Year 13
  • 112 practice questions
  • 19 animated lessons
Practice questions (112) Lessons Worksheets All AQA Physics topics

What the specification says

Every sub-topic AQA can examine in this topic, with its reference number from the official specification. The Y12 and Y13 tags show when each sub-topic is usually taught.

  1. 3.10.1 Physics of the eye
  2. 3.10.1.1Physics of visionY13
  3. 3.10.1.2Defects of vision and their correction using lensesY13
  4. 3.10.2 Physics of the ear
  5. 3.10.2.1Ear as a sound detection systemY13
  6. 3.10.2.2Sensitivity and frequency responseY13
  7. 3.10.2.3Defects of hearingY13
  8. 3.10.3 Biological measurement
  9. 3.10.3.1Simple ECG machines and the normal ECG waveformY13
  10. 3.10.4 Non-ionising imaging
  11. 3.10.4.1Ultrasound imagingY13
  12. 3.10.4.2Fibre optics and endoscopyY13
  13. 3.10.4.3Magnetic resonance (MR) scannerY13
  14. 3.10.5 X-ray imaging
  15. 3.10.5.1The physics of diagnostic X-raysY13
  16. 3.10.5.2Image detection and enhancementY13
  17. 3.10.5.3Absorption of X-raysY13
  18. 3.10.5.4CT scannerY13
  19. 3.10.6 Radionuclide imaging and therapy
  20. 3.10.6.1Imaging techniquesY13
  21. 3.10.6.2Half-lifeY13
  22. 3.10.6.3Gamma cameraY13
  23. 3.10.6.4Use of high-energy X-raysY13
  24. 3.10.6.5Use of radioactive implantsY13
  25. 3.10.6.6Imaging comparisonsY13

Try 3 questions

Easy, medium and hard questions from this topic, each with a worked solutions and the mark for every step. All 112 questions in this topic, free, no account needed.

Medical physics

Not needed for Year 12Easy

Image detection and enhancement · Year 13 · 3 marks

X-ray images can be recorded on photographic film or with flat-panel detectors.
  1. (a)
    Explain how an intensifying screen reduces the dose to the patient.
    (2)
  2. (b)
    Give one advantage of a flat-panel detector.
    (1)
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Part (a)2 marks

  1. A fluorescent screen emits many visible photons for each X-ray photon,
  2. so the film needs a shorter exposure.

Part (b)1 mark

  1. Images are digital and immediate, and can be enhanced and stored.

Total3

  • M
  • A
  • B
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Medical physics

Not needed for Year 12Medium

The ear · Year 13 · 3 marks

The ear converts sound waves into electrical signals.
  1. (a)
    Describe the function of the middle ear.
    (2)
  2. (b)
    Explain how the inner ear detects different frequencies.
    (1)
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Part (a)2 marks

  1. The ossicles transmit vibrations from the eardrum to the oval window,
  2. acting as a lever system that increases the pressure (impedance matching).

Part (b)1 mark

  1. Different parts of the basilar membrane resonate at different frequencies, stimulating different hair cells.

Total3

  • M
  • A
  • B
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Medical physics

Not needed for Year 12Hard

Effective half-life · Year 13 · 2 marks

A radionuclide has physical half-life 6 h and biological half-life 24 h.
  1. Find the effective half-life.
    (2)

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  1. 1TE\frac{1}{T_E}=16+124{}= \frac{1}{6} + \frac{1}{24}
  2. TE=4.80 hT_E = 4.80\ \mathrm{h}

Total2

  • M
  • A
  • B
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