Learning objectives
The most specific contents of the course are essentially intended to cover the basic aspects of the Physics regarding the electric, magnetic, and radiative properties, with a double purpose: 1) to give the necessary elements propaedeutic to other disciplines of this degree which have a direct physical foundation or should make frequent implicit use of Physics concepts (Chemistry, Biology, Biochemistry, Physiology, Instrumentation, Radiological instruments, etc.); 2) to lead the student to reach a deeper confidence about phenomenologies of daily use, but not always clear, as: light and its properties, also with reference to the most usual optical devices, and eye physical defects; electric and magnetic forces; laws governing potentials and currents; the basic electrical and magnetical ingredients; the substantial differences between continuous and alternate situations; features of the electromagnetic field and its propagation; atomic and nuclear structures with particular regard to X, alpha, beta and gamma radiative emissions; perturbation induced by radiation in the matter; revelation and control methods.
Prerequisites
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Course unit content
Electricity and Magnetism:
Electric charge and Coulomb's law - Dielectric constant - The electric field - Electric work and electrostatic potential - Volt - Dipolar field and potential - The electric double layer - Eletctrocardiogram (dipolar aspects) - Gauss' theorem e its basic applications - Faraday shield - Electrostatic induction and dielectric polarization - Capacitance and capacitors - Capacitors combined in series and parallel - Current intensity and current density - Ohm's law and resistance - Resistors combined in series e parallel - Electromotive force - Kirchhoff's laws - Thermic effect of a current - Electric conduction in liquids - Passage of the current in the human body - Electronic structure of insulators, conductors and semiconductors (short account) - Magnetic field and forces on currents and magnets - Biot/Savart law - Magnetic permeability - Circulation of B and Ampère's theorem - Solenoid - Electromagnetic induction and Faraday's and Lenz's laws - The autoinduction coefficient L - Alternate tension and current - Impedance of a circuit anddissipated AC power - Electromagnetic waves - Photoelectric effect and photons - Thermoionic emission
Optics:
Reflection and refraction laws and dispersion of the light - Total reflection and optical fiber - The endoscope (short account ) - Elements of spectral analysis - Optical systems, focal points, and dioptric power - Thin lenses and mirrors, and graphic construction of the images - Compound microscope - Resolution limit - Optical aberrations - The eye as a dioptric system - Common dioptric defects of the eye and correction by thin lenses - Wave properties of the light - Light diffraction and Huyghens' principle - Diffraction grating - Polarization of the light and polarimetry - Laser light: production, properties and applications in Medicine - The electronic microscope (short account)
Atom, Nucleus, and Radiations:
Atomic structure - Bohr and Bohr/Sommerfeld models of the atom - Emission and absorption of photons, andluminescence - X-rays: production and properties - Mechanisms of X-ray absorption in the matter - Radiological imaging - Nucleus structure and isotopes - Natural radioactivity: alpha, beta, and gamma radiation and absorption properties - Radioactive decay and mean life.
Full programme
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Bibliography
1. Lecture notes.
2. Bersani, Bettati, Biagi, Capozzi, Feroci, Lepore, Mita, Ortalli, Roberti, Viglino, Vitturi: Fisica biomedica, Ed. Piccin Nuova Libraria (Padova).
3. Giambattista, McCarthy Richardson, Richardson: Fisica Generale, Ed. McGraw-Hill (Milano).
4. J. Walker: Fondamenti di Fisica, Ed. Zanichelli.
5. Scannicchio: Fisica Biomedica, Ed. EdiSES (Napoli).
6. Resources and links from the Internet
Teaching methods
Classroom lectures
Assessment methods and criteria
Written exam
Other information
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