SLE123 - Physics for the Life Sciences
Unit details
| Year | 2025 unit information |
|---|---|
| Enrolment modes: | Trimester 2: Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong), Online Trimester 3: Online |
| Credit point(s): | 1 |
| EFTSL value: | 0.125 |
| Previously coded as: | SEP122 |
| Unit Chair: | Trimester 2: Chris Lim Trimester 3: Chris Lim |
| Prerequisite: | Nil |
| Corequisite: | Nil |
| Incompatible with: | SEP122, SLEM123 |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - on-campus unit enrolment: | 3 x 1 hour online lectures per week, 1 x 1 hour seminar per week. |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - online unit enrolment: | Online independent and collaborative learning including 3 x 1 hour online lectures per week, 1 x 1 hour online seminar per week. |
| Typical study commitment: | Students will on average spend 150 hours over the teaching period undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit. This will include educator guided online learning activities within the unit site. |
Content
Students of the life sciences have a growing need to acquire an effective working knowledge of the physical sciences. In this unit, physics concepts such as mechanics, energy, fluids, waves, sound, electricity, optics, and atoms, will be explored and related to biology and biomedical science. Students will use evidence to demonstrate and evaluate knowledge of fundamental physics principles, and will also have the opportunity to design and conduct their own experiments to evaluate how physics is related to life.
Learning Outcomes
| ULO | These are the Unit Learning Outcomes (ULOs) for this unit. At the completion of this unit, successful students can: | Alignment to Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes (GLOs) |
|---|---|---|
| ULO1 | Use evidence to demonstrate and evaluate knowledge of physics principles, at introductory level. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities GLO4: Critical thinking |
| ULO2 | Design and conduct experiments to evaluate how physics enables life, at introductory level. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
| ULO3 | Use the lens of physics to question aspects of life and demonstrate how physics is important for fundamental biological principles, at introductory level. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
| ULO4
| Understand and communicate concepts using the language of physics, along with associated scientific language and conventions, at introductory level. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
| ULO5 | Work collaboratively as a team and demonstrate effective communication with team members throughout the experimental demonstration and be able to communicate the outcomes of the project to a range of audience through their video presentation. | GLO2: Communication |
Assessment
| Assessment Description | Student output | Grading and weighting (% total mark for unit) | Indicative due week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment 1 Quizzes | Ten online quizzes | 40% (10 x 4%) | Weekly |
| Assessment 2 Experimental demonstration | Collaborative 3-minute video presentation | 35% | Week 9 |
| End-of-Unit Assessment | Timed online test | 25% | End-of-Unit Assessment Period |
The assessment due weeks provided may change. The Unit Chair will clarify the exact assessment requirements, including the due date, at the start of the teaching period.
Learning resource
Prescribed text(s): Giambattista et al, 2019, Physics, 5th edition, Mcgraw Hill.
The texts and reading list for SLE123 can be found via the University Library.
Note: Select the relevant trimester reading list. Please note that a future teaching period's reading list may not be available until a month prior to the start of that teaching period so you may wish to use the relevant trimester's prior year reading list as a guide only.
Unit Fee Information
Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study and their study discipline, and your study load.
Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current Students website.