IOP Medical Physics
This list is a sub-list of Medical Physics
These are some of the best resources around for teaching medical physics. All credit to the IOP for funding them and making them available and congratulations too to Dr Michael Wilson for delivering such an interesting, intellectually challenging and fun lecture. Medical physics is not a traditional physics topic so not all physics teachers will be familiar with the technology. This series of resources explains clearly these amazing applications of physics and both teachers and students will find them very interesting indeed. Each medial application includes a film clip (lengths vary but all less than 10 minutes), a powerpoint presentation, student worksheet and teacher notes.
Designed with more able GCSE students in mind, the worksheets can also be used in introductory A level lessons. The only problem with using them is that all your lessons on this topic might end up having the same format so some caution should be exercised.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
You’ll find here a film clip from the lecture full of graphics and demonstrations to explain the concept of MRI which can be followed up by a teacher led presentation and student worksheet. There is also a background sheet for teachers which includes the answers to the worksheet. Although the worksheet itself isn’t very exciting; used in conjunction with the presentation and films this is an excellent resource.
Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
This super set of resources, again from the IOP’s schools lecture, not only explains really clearly how a PET scan works but also covers beta-minus decay. Follow up the film with the presentation and student worksheet for a lesson that showcases how anti-matter is already being harnessed to provide health benefits for humans. There’s a good set of teacher notes too, including worked answers to the student worksheet for those teachers who may want a bit of reassurance.
Gamma Cameras
The film clip is really interesting and any students vaguely interested in physics will love it. Follow up the film with the teacher led presentation (notes for this are also provided) and the student worksheet which is aimed squarely at the top end of the GCSE specification.
X-ray Imaging
This set of resources includes two films, one on x-ray imaging and then a further one on CT scanning. The film on X-rays includes a lovely demonstration of cathode rays that can be difficult to set up in a school laboratory and the film on CT scanners is very well explained. There are also a couple of very short films showing a 3D x-ray image and a CT scan. There is also a powerpoint presentation (with notes teacher notes available too) that the teacher can use to explain the salient points from the GCSE specification and a student worksheet.