RAD1022 Medical radiation science: Physical principles
Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences
RAD1022 Medical radiation science: Physical principles is a level 1, 6-credit-point, undergraduate unit from the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, offered in 2026 in Semester 2 at Clayton. It needs RAD1081 and unlocks 3 units.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2026
- Semester 2
- Clayton
- Assessment
- No exam
- 2 tasks
This is the 2026 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
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Requisites
Before RAD1022
Prerequisites
Pass these before you enrol.
After RAD1022
3 units list RAD1022 as a prerequisite or corequisite.
Enrolment rules
Corequisite - M2017, M2003. Permission is required for M2003.
Overview
This unit introduces you to the physical principles underlying imaging modalities which are crucial for both diagnostic and treatment purposes in medical radiation practice. Imaging modalities discussed include radiography, ultrasound, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and nuclear medicine imaging.
The content covered will include the methods by which each technology produces and enhances the relevant energy forms and how they are accurately measured, processed and recorded to produce a diagnostic image.
You will also consider introductory information relating to the design, operation and safety implications of specified instrumentation.
Offerings in 2026
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Second semester | Clayton | Blended |
Assessment
- Laboratory reports (5 x reports, 600 words per report. Total=3,000 words)Written50%
- Quiz series (5 x 20 mins Moodle quizzes)Quiz / Test50%
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
Apply the laws of physics, units of measurement and dimensions to solve numerical problems relating to radiation science.
- 2
Describe how the interaction of x-rays, gamma rays, sound waves and magnetic fields with matter creates a detectable signal that can be captured to form a diagnostic image.
- 3
Explain the design and image formation of imaging modality instrumentation including radiography, CT, Nuclear Medicine, PET, MRI and Ultrasound modalities.
- 4
Discuss the safety considerations relating to imaging modality instrumentation and options for managing patient dose.
- 5
Reflect on the applications of imaging in the radiation therapy field.
Workload and teaching
- Tutorials14 hours
- Lectures12 hours
- Laboratories10 hours
1 hour weekly online lecture, 2 hour weekly contact session (7 weeks are 2-hour-tutorials, 5 weeks are 2-hour-labs across semester), and 2 hours of teacher - directed interaction with Moodle-based tasks per week. You will be expected to engage in additional self-directed activities to facilitate the development of knowledge and understanding of the physical concepts covered in the unit for 7 hours each week.
You will be expected to engage in additional self-directed readings to facilitate the development of knowledge and understanding of the physical concepts covered in the unit.
Learning resources
Required resources
See Moodle for details about required resources.
Contacts
- Chief Examiners
- Dr Shan Kou
- Unit Coordinators
- Dr Shan Kou
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for RAD1022?
You need RAD1081 before you enrol. Enrolment rules also apply.
What can I take after RAD1022?
RAD1022 is a prerequisite or corequisite for 3 units, including RAD2001, RAD2003 and RTS2101.
When is RAD1022 offered?
In 2026, RAD1022 runs in Semester 2 at Clayton.
Does RAD1022 have an exam?
No. RAD1022 has 2 assessment tasks and no exam.