Radioactivity and Radiation Interactions (PHYS*3170)
Code and section: PHYS*3170*01
Term: Fall 2019
Instructor: Ralf Gellert
Details
Course Description
This course introduces the student to concepts in radiation physics with underlying emphasis on its practical application in medical physics. Topics include: atomic and nuclear structure, introduction to different types of radiation and their reaction mechanisms, natural and artificially generated radioisotopes, the interaction of radiation with matter, radioactive decay processes, human dosimetry calculations and external radiation shielding. This course is meant to provide the student with the capacity to carry out calculations in this field and provide context to material taught in upper level physics courses.
Timetable
Lectures
Tuesdays & Thursdays
11:30 am − 12:50 pm in
MCKN 305
Midterm
Thursday, October 24, 2019
In Class
Final Exam
Monday, December 9, 2019
7:00p - 9:00p
Room TBD
Instructional Support
Instructor: Ralf Gellert
Email: rgellert@uoguelph.ca
Telephone: +1-519-824-4120 x53992
Office: MACN 450
Office Hours: Tentatively Tuesday and Thursday, 3 pm in my office, MacN 450.
Evaluation
Component | Weight |
---|---|
Assignments | 30% |
Midterm Exam | 20% |
Final Exam | 50% |
The 5 assignments will be posted on the courselink site typically 10 days before the due date. Late assignments will be penalized with 10% deduction per day and no assignments can be accepted after the posting of the solutions on the course page. Contact the instructor if your submission is delayed to to unforeseeable circumstances.
Midterm and Final Exam
The midterm exam is planned Wednesday, October 24, in class. The final exam is scheduled for Monday, December 9, 2019. Both the midterm and final exam will be closed book. You will be provided with an equation sheet and you are allowed to prepare a one page, handwritten cheat sheet. Only non-programmable pocket calculators will be permitted. Personal communication or entertainment devices (eg. cell phone, MP3 player) are not permitted.
If you miss a midterm examination due to illness or compassionate reasons, you need to provide the instructor with a waiver slip. See your Program Counsellor if you require assistance. If you miss the final examination, see your Program Counsellor. Please refer to “Process for Academic Consideration and Appeals” in the 2019/20 Undergraduate Calendar.
Learning Resources
Required Resources
- Atoms, Radiation, and Radiation Protection (Textbook)
James E. Turner, "Atoms, Radiation, and Radiation Protection", 3rd ed., John Wiley & Sons, 2007. The textbook will be used as supporting reading material during the course. It is available electronically as an ebook through the library website, search primo for Turner and radiation - CourseLink (Website)
Class notes, assignments, additional materials and announcements will be posted on the CourseLink Desire to Learn (D2L) website: https://courselink.uoguelph.ca/shared/login/login.html. All students registered in this course have access through their University of Guelph Central Login account. The instructor will also post solutions to assignments and midterms on this site.
Additional Resources
- Introductory Nuclear Physics (Textbook)
K.S.Krane, “Introductory Nuclear Physics”, 3rd Edition, Wiley, 1987. - Nuclear Physics, An Introduction (Textbook)
W. E. Burcham, “Nuclear Physics, An Introduction”, 2nd edition, Longmans, 1973. - Table of Isotopes (Textbook)
C. M. Lederer and V.S. Shirley, “Table of Isotopes”, 7th (or 6th) edition, Wiley, 1978. - Introduction to Health Physics (Textbook)
H. Cember, “Introduction to Health Physics”, 2nd edition, McGraw-Hill, 1992. - The Physics of Radiology (Textbook)
H. E. Johns and J. R. Cunningham, “The Physics of Radiology”, 4th edition, Charles C. Thomas, 1983. - X-rays in Atomic and Nuclear Physics (Textbook)
N. A. Dyson, “X-rays in Atomic and Nuclear Physics”, 2nd edition, Cambridge University Press, 1990. - Radiobiology for the Radiologist (Textbook)
E. J. Hall and A. J. Giaccia, “Radiobiology for the Radiologist”, 7th (or 5th and 6th) edition, Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2012.
University Statements
Email Communication
When You Cannot Meet a Course Requirement
Undergraduate Calendar - Academic Consideration and Appeals
Graduate Calendar - Grounds for Academic Consideration
Associate Diploma Calendar - Academic Consideration, Appeals and Petitions
Drop Date
Undergraduate Calendar - Dropping Courses
Graduate Calendar - Registration Changes
Associate Diploma Calendar - Dropping Courses
Copies of Out-of-class Assignments
Accessibility
Academic Integrity
Recording of Materials
Resources
Disclaimer
Please note: This is a preliminary web course description. The department reserves the right to change without notice any information in this description. An official course outline will be distributed in the first class of the semester and/or posted on Courselink.