Learning objectives
This course aims to give basic training for other important subjects such as, for example, physiology. The course also introduces many principles and concepts for understanding the current technologies that are useful for diagnosis and treatment.
Course unit content
<br />Fundamental Laws of Dynamics <br />
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Vectors and scalars. Units, dimensions. Velocity and acceleration. Newton's laws. Newton's law of gravitation. Acceleration of gravity. Difference between mass and weight. Work, power and energy. Types of energy: thermal, chemical, potential, kinetic, nuclear. Energy conservation law. Friction. Static and dynamic friction. Force and moment of a force. Centre of gravity, barycentre. Equilibrium state of a rigid body. Levers and applications to the human body. Structure of solids. Elastic properties of a body, Young's modulus. Elastic behaviour of blood vessels and bones. <br />
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Fluids and Fluid Dynamics <br />
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Pressure, Stevino’s law. Pascal’s law. Archimedes’ principle. Torricelli barometer. <br />
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Flow rate. Characteristics of an ideal fluid. Bernoulli’s theorem. Applications of Bernoulli's theorem to blood circulation. Real fluids. Laminar flow. Turbulent flow. Reynolds number. Blood pressure measurement. Surface tension and capillarity. <br />
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Waves, Optics, Electrostatics, Electricity, Magnetism and Radiations. <br />
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Vibrations: harmonic, damped, forced motions, and resonance. Characteristics of waves, the wave equation, superposition and interference of waves, stationary waves. Sound waves, the ear and hearing, interference of sound, beats. Ultrasound. Doppler effect. The Doppler echo in diagnostics: an application of the Doppler effect. <br />
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Light. Geometrical optics: refraction, reflection, Snell's law, total reflection. Lenses and Dioptres. Creation of an image with a thin lens. The human eye, basic optical instruments . Interference of light. Diffraction of light. <br />
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Electrostatics: electric charge. Coulomb’s law. Electric field Electric potential Electric current: definition of resistance. DC (direct current) circuits. Ohm's laws. Serial and parallel resistors. Kirchhoff's law. Resistance, capacitance and inductance in an AC (alternating current) circuit. Gauss' theorem. Flux of an electric field. Electrocardiogram. Series and parallel capacitance. Dielectrics. <br />
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Magnetic Field. Electromagnetic field. Motion of charges in a magnetic field. Biot-Savart law and Ampere's law. Force generated between current-carrying conductors. Magnetic Induction: Faraday's law and Lenz's law. <br />
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The atom. Radioactivity, law of radioactive decay, half-life. Electromagnetic spectrum. Photons as particles and waves. Production and applications of X rays. <br />
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Bibliography
Physics With Illustrative Examples >From Medicine and Biology George B. Benedek Felix M.H.Villars- Srpringer <br />
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Fisica con Applicazioni in biologia e in Medicina. <br />
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F. Borsa, D. Scannicchio Edizioni Unicopli
Teaching methods
Teaching is by means of classroom lectures, usually with the use of Power Point presentation. Students are assessed through an oral exam
