Biomedical Physics Course for Engineers
Our Engineering Biomedical Physics course covers the physics of the human body, biomechanics, fluid flow in the circulatory system, bioelectric signals, ultrasound, X-ray, CT and MRI imaging, radiation physics and safety, and biomedical instrumentation. Lessons are live and one-to-one with a verified subject expert, who explains each concept with worked examples, solves problems from your own module and helps you prepare for exams and coursework. Suitable for biomedical engineering, medical physics and allied health students, following university syllabi in the UK, US, Australia and India (including AKTU, VTU and Anna University style courses).
Reviewed by K. Sharma, Master's in Physics, Maharishi Dayanand UniversityLast updated
$13 – $33
per hour
Free demo class · pay only if you continue
What you will learn
Learning outcomes
- Understand physics principles in biological systems
- Apply biomechanics concepts
- Explain bioelectric phenomena
- Understand medical imaging principles
- Explain ultrasound and radiation physics
- Understand biomedical sensors and instrumentation
- Apply optics concepts in medicine
- Analyze applications of physics in healthcare technology
Prerequisites
- Basic physics
- Basic mathematics
- Basic biology
- Fundamentals of engineering
Tags
Course structure
Syllabus(5 modules)
- Diffusion and permeability
- Resting membrane potential
- Nernst equation
- Goldman equation
- Action potential
What is Biomedical Physics?
In short: this course gives one-to-one online tutoring in biomedical physics for engineering and life science students. A verified tutor explains bioelectricity, diffusion, fluids in the body, imaging physics and radiation, with numerical problems worked step by step.
Biomedical physics, or biophysics for engineers, applies the laws of physics to living systems and medical technology. It explains how nerve and muscle cells generate electrical signals, how bones and tissues respond to forces, how radiation interacts with the body, how fluids move through membranes and vessels, and how thermodynamics applies to living organisms.
This online course teaches Biomedical Physics one to one with a verified tutor who has studied or taught it at university level, at your pace and aligned with your own module.
Related subject: Biomedical instrumentation help.
What does the Biomedical Physics course cover?
| Unit | Key content |
|---|---|
| Bioelectricity | Diffusion and permeability across membranes, resting membrane potential, Nernst and Goldman equations, action potentials, ECG and EEG basics |
| Biomechanics | Elasticity of cell materials, elasticity and strength of bone, muscle mechanics, forces on joints |
| Radiation biophysics | Radioactive decay and half-life, production of radioisotopes, biological effects of radiation, dosimetry |
| Fluid biophysics | Fluid flow across membranes, Fick's law of diffusion, osmosis, blood flow and viscosity |
| Thermodynamics of living systems | The body as a thermodynamic system, laws of thermodynamics in biology, energy balance, heat transfer |
How do you calculate a membrane equilibrium potential?
Use the Nernst equation for a single ion:
E = (RT ÷ zF) ln([ion]outside ÷ [ion]inside)
- Identify the ion and its charge z.
- Insert the concentrations outside and inside the cell.
- At body temperature, RT ÷ F ≈ 26.7 mV, or about 61.5 mV per decade for z = +1 using log₁₀.
- For several ions, use the Goldman equation, weighting each by its membrane permeability.
How does Fick's law describe diffusion?
- Fick's first law: flux J = −D (dC/dx).
- D is the diffusion coefficient; dC/dx is the concentration gradient.
- Flux is greater for steeper gradients and larger D.
- Across a membrane of thickness Δx, J ≈ D × ΔC ÷ Δx.
- Apply it to oxygen transfer in the lungs or drug diffusion through tissue.
What does a worked imaging physics question look like?
Here is a typical radiation question: what fraction of an X-ray beam's intensity remains after passing through three half-value layers?
| Step | Working |
|---|---|
| One half-value layer | Intensity halves |
| Three layers | (1/2)³ = 1/8 |
| Result | 12.5% of the original intensity remains |
Where do students lose marks in Biomedical Physics?
Students most often lose marks in Biomedical Physics through the habits below. Each is easy to fix with practice and feedback on your own work.
| Mark-loser | What to do instead |
|---|---|
| Units mixed up | Convert to SI units first |
| Exponential relationships misapplied | Use half-value or decay formulas correctly |
| Biology and physics not linked | Explain the physiological meaning of the result |
| Approximations not stated | State the assumptions of each model |
| Graphs without units | Label axes and units |
How is it assessed, and how can a tutor help?
Biomedical physics modules are usually assessed by written exams with derivations and numericals, plus laboratory work or assignments.
Tutors explain concepts, work through practice problems with you and give feedback on your approach. Graded work you submit must be your own, as set out in our academic integrity policy. For deadline-driven guidance, see assignment help.
How the lessons work
Lessons are live and one to one on video with screen sharing and a shared whiteboard. You can follow a full course or book sessions on the topics you find hardest before exams. See also Engineering Physics, Human Physiology I and Fluid Mechanics.
Physics for biomedical engineering: who this course is for, prerequisites and study plan
Physics for biomedical engineering means applying electricity, mechanics, radiation, fluids and thermodynamics to the human body and medical devices, and this course teaches exactly that with a 1-to-1 tutor.
This biomedical physics course suits biomedical engineering, medical physics and physics students taking a biophysics or biomedical physics module, and engineering students who need the physics behind medical devices and imaging.
Prerequisites: school or first-year physics, basic calculus and introductory biology.
Course length: 36 one-hour lessons across 5 modules.
| Stage | Module | What you can do afterwards |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bioelectricity | Calculate membrane potentials with the Nernst and Goldman equations |
| 2 | Biomechanics | Analyse forces in bone and muscle and apply stress and strain |
| 3 | Radiation biophysics | Use attenuation and half-value layers and explain imaging physics |
| 4 | Fluid biophysics, thermodynamics of living systems | Apply Poiseuille's and Fick's laws and energy balance in the body |
Where it leads: students often add our Human Physiology I course for the biology, or Fluid Mechanics for blood-flow modelling.
Biomedical Physics Course for Engineers: frequently asked questions
What is biomedical physics?
The application of physics to living systems and medical technology.
What is the resting membrane potential?
The voltage across a resting cell membrane, about −70 mV in many neurons.
What is the Nernst equation?
An equation giving the equilibrium potential for a single ion across a membrane.
What is the Goldman equation?
An extension of the Nernst equation for several ions with different permeabilities.
What is Fick's law?
A law stating that diffusion flux is proportional to the concentration gradient.
Why do engineers study biophysics?
It underpins biomedical instruments, imaging and medical device design.
Do you follow my university's syllabus?
Yes. Tutors follow your module outline and past papers.
Can you help me prepare for my exam?
Yes. Tutors practise derivations and numerical problems.
How much does a Biomedical Physics tutor cost?
The price depends on the tutor and session length. You see the hourly rate before booking, with no subscription.
Can a tutor do my assignment for me?
No. Tutors explain, guide and give feedback so you can complete your own work, in line with our academic integrity policy.
What is a half-value layer?
The thickness of material that halves the intensity of a radiation beam.
How does ultrasound imaging work?
Sound pulses reflect at tissue boundaries, and echo timing builds the image.
What is Poiseuille's law?
Flow through a tube is proportional to the fourth power of the radius.
How does MRI work?
It uses magnetic fields and radio waves to excite hydrogen nuclei and measure their signals.
What is ionising radiation?
Radiation with enough energy to remove electrons from atoms, such as X-rays.
Can you help with lab data analysis?
Yes. Tutors help with uncertainties, graphs and interpretation.
Is biomedical physics the same as medical physics?
They overlap but are not the same. Medical physics applies physics directly in healthcare, such as radiotherapy, imaging and radiation safety, and is often a clinical profession. Biomedical physics is broader and studies the physics of living systems and medical technology, from biomechanics to optics. Your tutor follows your own module outline.
Do you offer lessons in my time zone?
Yes. Lessons are online, so you can book times that suit your time zone.
Is a medical physicist a doctor?
No. A medical physicist is a scientist, not a medical doctor. They usually hold a physics or engineering degree followed by specialist training in medical physics, and they work alongside doctors on radiotherapy planning, imaging quality and radiation safety. Some hold a PhD, which gives the title Dr, but they do not treat patients.
What jobs can you get with biomedical physics?
Biomedical physics leads to roles such as clinical or medical physicist, radiotherapy physics, medical imaging science, medical device research and development, and academic research. Many clinical roles need further accredited training after your degree, which varies by country. Your tutor focuses on the physics your current module examines, which these careers build on.
What physics do you need for biomedical engineering?
Biomedical engineers need mechanics for biomechanics and prosthetics, electricity and magnetism for bioelectric signals and instrumentation, waves and optics for ultrasound and imaging, radiation physics for X-rays and radiotherapy, and fluid mechanics for blood flow. Thermodynamics also matters for body heat and energy balance. This course covers each of these in biological contexts.
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