Biological Physics, An Introduction

I just spotted this; the Institute of Physics have a website that contains a load of  free modules that they have written, to introduce physicists to the subject of Biological Physics.

It looks fascinating and appears to be quite heavy in mathematical content, in parts.  The gist is, that this subject deals with how physics content is applied in understanding and developing areas such as bio-mechanics,  thermodynamics in organisms and molecular actions such as in molecular machines.

The modules are available to read on the site or for download as Powerpoint slides.

You can find them all here:  The Biological Physics Site

Settling Down After the Exam

I experienced a post exam high, that has not yet dissipated   I have never experienced such a phenomena  after any previous exams on other courses.

Interestingly, this high is not a reflection of how I think that I have done, in the exam.  It is more a sense of accomplishment from simply being able to study all of that university level pure mathematics, and actually understand most of it.  I feel nourished from the very act of pitting my brain against M208; a course that was a cruel mistress at times, but ultimately lovable.

On reflection, the whole experiment of trying to start out with a GCSE (school) level qualification in mathematics, and move into such higher mathematical study, seemed like a tall order; a flight of fancy; a pipe dream.

Yet, here we are, two years on from starting to study maths with the Open University; and I feel strangely calm, enthused and ready to tackle more.

To that end, I have finalised my next 12 months of study, and it looks something like this:


November 2012
MST209 course material-
Second Order differential equations
Vector Algebra recap
Fourier Series
Partial differential equations
Vector Calculus


December 2012
S207 course material-
Static Fields and potentials
Dynamic fields and waves


January 2013
A Student's Guide to Maxwell Equations.    Fleisch, Daniel.
A Student's Guide to Vectors and Tensors.      Fleisch, Daniel.

I'll also dip into the Unit 0 material for the Open University third year course,  MS324 Waves Diffusion and Variational Principles


This is all self study material, that looks exciting and a real change from the very abstract world of pure maths.

This is all in preparation for my next year of study which consists of:


February 2013 - October 2013

The Quantum World - 3rd year quantum mechanics module

Electromagnetism - 3rd year applied maths / physics module


That only then leave me one more 30 point level three module to do, in order to have enough points to claim a BSc Hons Open degree, at that point.  Even so, I am actually planning on taking 60 points in October 2013, as I want to enrich my knowledge in mathematical physics, sufficiently enough to allow an easier introduction into some post-graduate work in October 2014.

Also, I am trying to make use of my transitional arrangements for the university fees, which is a system that vastly reduces the costs of any additional undergraduate modules that I can squeeze in, before 2017.

Roll on February.

I can't wait!

M208 Post-Exam Review

I am exhausted!

I took the M208 exam today and I shall quickly make a few comments about how it went.

Firstly, I feel happy, simply because I don't think that I could have revised any more than I did, and I feel like I gave each question 100% effort, during the short time that I was in that room.

So the results, will not be able to upset me, if they turn out to be poor.

The part 2 questions that I chose were from Groups A , which ended up being quite a bit of writing.  The second one I chose was the Analysis A question.

I only glanced at the other three part 2 questions, so I don't know much about them; other than, they looked very tricky.

I know I made some errors, so I have no idea what score to expect.  If all the things that could have gone wrong, went wrong; then it could be dire.  On the other hand, if I was lucky and didn't make too many accuracy errors in the questions, then no score is off the cards.

I just simply and genuinely have no idea how it has gone.  Results are out in December.

Exam time

Well, here we are at last; 24hrs before the start of my M208 exam.  I just thought I would jot down a few things.

How do I feel?  Suprisingly calm. No butterflies, no last minute panic. Revision has been steady at average of 4hrs per day for the last 3 weeks. I have done each past paper many times and I am now happy that bar any catastrophic meltdown, that I should finish the paper on time.

I have worked out, that I am much better at Group Theory A, Analysis A, Group Theory B. I can manage most part 1 type questions although I do tend to make simple arithmetic all errors, which can throw things a little.

The part that I seem to struggle with the most, is some of Analysis B, which is the integrations stuff. Yet I am happy with tackling the power series topics and the Differentiation bits as well.

I am still quite unsure about a lot of the later Linear algebra stuff, under exam conditions, but I have annotated the odd example, to help me through the process.

I intend to blog about the exam itself and then will hopefully look to finalise my next 2yrs of study. As has become a bit of a tradition for me, I like to use the lead up to Christmas to get my results, review the year and then chop or change my next modules, as best I can

I am currently booked in to study Quantum Mechanics and Electromagnetism from February.

I think that if I can achieve a grade 2 pass for M208, then I will stick to that plan.

If I bomb tomorrow's exam?

Well, I see that my local community college does woodworking classes on a Tuesday night... I'll get my chisels.