Title: |
Modern Miracle Medical
Machines: Introducing Contemporary Physics in the Context of Medical
Applications* |
Meeting: |
2005 AAPT Winter Meeting:
Albuquerque, NM |
Location: |
Aragon SW Exhibit Hall |
Date: |
Monday, Jan. 10 |
Time: |
8:00 a.m. |
Author: |
Dean Zollman, Kansas State
Univ.
785-532-1619,
dzollman@phys.ksu.edu |
Co-Author(s): |
None |
Abstract:
|
Many of the diagnostic
devices used by physicians have their technological foundation in
contemporary physics. To understand techniques such as magnetic
resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET), students
require knowledge of nuclear and quantum physics. Thus, these
instruments can provide motivation to study contemporary physics. To
exploit this motivation we have built on the Visual Quantum Mechanics1
project (http://web.phys.ksu.edu/vqm/) and are developing learning units
that focus on applications to medical diagnosis. Units are planned on
x-ray production and absorption, MRI, PET, CT scans and ultrasound.
Initial efforts have focused on understanding student models of these
procedures before instruction and on gathering useful web-based
resources for teachers. (http://web.phys.ksu.edu/mmmm/) |
Footnotes:
|
*Supported by the NSF grant
#DUE-04-2675. Additional support from the German Bundesministerium für
Bildung und Forschung as part of the Physik im Kontext project. 1. Dean
Zollman, Visual Quantum Mechanics (Ztek, Lexington, KY, 2002);
http://www.ztek.com. |
|