CH0S10 - Foundation Biophysics 01 Sep 2024 - 31 Aug 2030 | Version 5

Associated Module Information

Module Code: CH0S10
Module Title: Foundation Biophysics
Faculty: Faculty of Life Sciences and Education
Faculty Group: Sport
Faculty Sub Group: Chiropractic
Module Leader: Benjamin Stacey
Module Team: Benjamin Stacey, Hayley Davies, Jayne Ludlow, Paul McCambridge
First Intended Intake: SEP 2024 Final Year of Intake: 2029
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 20 Credit Level: 3
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100241 - chiropractic
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

Version 5
Valid From 01 Sep 2024
Valid To 31 Aug 2030

Module Aims

The aims of this module are to: 

  • develop student awareness of physical principles that are relevant to the life sciences and to chiropractic; 

  • enable students to understand and solve selected biophysical problems. 

Content Summary

Scientific notation; rounding-off numbers to specified numbers of decimal places 

Solving equations for one unknown using rules of operation (BODMAS) 

Trigonometry (right-angled triangles, trigonometric ratios, Pythagorean theorem) 

Scalar and vector quantities, vector resultants and components, SI units 

Linear kinematics (e.g. displacement, velocity, acceleration) 

Linear kinetics (e.g. Newton’s laws of motion, mass, weight, force, friction, moment of inertia, balancing moments, conservation of energy) 

Introduction to mechanical properties of solid materials (e.g. stress, strain, strength, extensibility, stiffness, toughness, tension, compression, shear, bending and torsion); selected elastic and viscoelastic (biological) materials and structures 

Introduction to fluids: statics; viscosity; dynamics, e.g. free flow (no-slip condition, boundary layers, Reynolds number, stream-lining) and flow through pipes 

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Lecture 20
Independent Study 76
Directed Study (including online independent learning) 98
Formative assessment - scheduled 4
Groupwork 2
Total Hours Selected 200

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 To demonstrate an understanding of selected physical principles that underpin the life sciences and are relevant to chiropractic
LO2 To be able to solve selected biophysical problems using mathematical principles.

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Synchronous Onsite Assessment (Exam) Onsite Closed Book Examination 1 Written test; factual recall AND solving biophysical problems; containing multiple-choice questions, short and medium-length answers 120 N/A 100 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Onsite Closed Book Examination 1

Reading List

Stroud, K. A.; Booth, Dexter J. (2009) Foundation Mathematics. Basingstoke : Palgrave Macmillan

Spurk, Joseph H.; Aksel, Nuri. (2020) Fluid Mechanics 3rd ed. Cham, Switzerland:Springer. 

Kruglak, H., Moore, J.T. and Mata-Toledo, R.A., (1998) Shaum’s Outline of Basic Mathematics with Applications to Science & Technology 2nd ed. Shaum’s Outline Series. New York, NY, McGraw-Hill.

McGinnis, P.M., (2020) Biomechanics of Sport & Exercise 4th ed. Champaign, IL, Human Kinetics.