Physics in biology and medicine / Paul Davidovits.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Davidovits, Paul.

Series:

Complementary science series

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Biophysics.

Medical physics.

Physical Description:

xv, 303 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm.

Edition:

Second edition.

Place of Publication:

San Diego : Harcourt Academic Press, [2001]

Summary:

At one time scientists believed that a "vital force" governed the structure and organization of biological molecules. Today, most scientists realize that organisms are governed by the laws of physics on all levels.

While almost two centuries of research have found that physical laws fully apply to biology, work is far from complete. Basic questions at the atomic, molecular, and organismal levels remain unanswered. Even when typically complex molecular structure is known, function is not yet predictable. Nourishment, growth, reproduction, and communication distinguish biological matter from inorganic matter, yet these mechanisms are understood only qualitatively.

This book furthers our understanding by relating important concepts in physics to living systems. Applications of physics in biology and medicine are emphasized, with no previous knowledge of biology required. The analysis is largely quantitative, but only high-school physics and mathematics are assumed. Underlying basic physics appears in appendices. Biological systems are described in only enough detail for physical analysis.

The organization is similar to basic physics texts: solid mechanics, fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, sound, electricity, optics, and atomic and nuclear physics. A bibliography gives important sources for further reading.

Contents:

1 Static Forces 1

1.1 Equilibrium and Stability 2

1.2 Equilibrium Considerations for the Human Body 3

1.3 Stability of the Human Body under the Action of an External Force 4

1.4 Skeletal Muscles 7

1.5 Levers 10

1.6 The Elbow 11

1.7 The Hip 15

1.7.1 Limping 17

1.8 The Back 17

1.9 Standing Tip-Toe on One Foot 19

1.10 Dynamic Aspects of Posture 19

2 Friction 23

2.1 Standing at an Incline 25

2.2 Friction at the Hip Joint 26

2.3 Spine Fin of a Catfish 27

3 Translational Motion 30

3.1 Vertical Jump 31

3.2 Effect of Gravity on the Vertical Jump 34

3.3 Running High Jump 35

3.4 Range of a Projectile 36

3.5 Standing Broad Jump 37

3.6 Running Broad Jump 38

3.7 Motion through Air 39

3.8 Energy Consumed in Physical Activity 41

4 Angular Motion 44

4.1 Forces on a Curved Path 44

4.2 A Runner on a Curved Track 46

4.3 Pendulum 47

4.4 Walking 48

4.5 Physical Pendulum 49

4.6 Speed of Walking and Running 50

4.7 Energy Expended in Running 52

5 Elasticity and Strength of Materials 56

5.1 Longitudinal Stretch and Compression 56

5.2 A Spring 57

5.3 Bone Fracture: Energy Considerations 59

5.4 Impulsive Forces 61

5.5 Fracture Due to a Fall: Impulsive Force Considerations 62

5.6 Airbags: Inflating Collision Protection Devices 63

5.7 Whiplash Injury 64

5.8 Falling from Great Height 65

6 Insect Flight 67

6.1 Hovering Flight 67

6.2 Insect Wing Muscles 69

6.3 Power Required for Hovering 70

6.4 Kinetic Energy of Wings in Flight 72

6.5 Elasticity of Wings 73

7 Fluids 76

7.1 Force and Pressure in a Fluid 76

7.2 Pascal's Principle 77

7.3 Hydrostatic Skeleton 78

7.4 Archimedes' Principle 81

7.5 Power Required to Remain Afloat 81

7.6 Buoyancy of Fish 82

7.7 Surface Tension 83

7.8 Soil Water 86

7.9 Insect Locomotion on Water 87

7.10 Contraction of Muscles 89

8 The Motion of Fluids 92

8.1 Bernoulli's Equation 92

8.2 Viscosity and Poiseuille's Law 94

8.3 Turbulent Flow 95

8.4 Circulation of the Blood 96

8.5 Blood Pressure 98

8.6 Control of Blood Flow 100

8.7 Energetics of Blood Flow 100

8.8 Turbulence in the Blood 101

8.9 Arteriosclerosis and Blood Flow 101

8.10 Power Produced by the Heart 103

8.11 Measurement of Blood Pressure 103

9 Heat and Kinetic Theory 106

9.1 Heat and Hotness 106

9.2 Kinetic Theory of Matter 106

9.3.1 Unit of Heat 109

9.3.2 Specific Heat 109

9.3.3 Latent Heats 110

9.4 Transfer of Heat 110

9.4.1 Conduction 110

9.4.2 Convection 111

9.4.3 Radiation 112

9.4.4 Diffusion 113

9.5 Transport of Molecules by Diffusion 116

9.6 Diffusion through Membranes 118

9.7 The Respiratory System 119

9.8 Diffusion and Contact Lenses 122

10 Thermodynamics 124

10.1 First Law of Thermodynamics 124

10.2 Second Law of Thermodynamics 126

10.3 Difference between Heat and Other Forms of Energy 127

10.4 Thermodynamics of Living Systems 129

10.5 Information and the Second Law 132

11 Heat and Life 134

11.1 Energy Requirements of People 135

11.2 Energy from Food 136

11.3 Regulation of Body Temperature 138

11.4 Control of Skin Temperature 140

11.5 Convection 140

11.6 Radiation 142

11.7 Radiative Heating by the Sun 142

11.8 Evaporation 144

11.9 Resistance to Cold 145

11.10 Heat and Soil 147

12 Waves and Sound 151

12.1 Properties of Sound 151

12.2 Some Properties of Waves 154

12.2.1 Reflection and Refraction 154

12.2.2 Interference 155

12.2.3 Diffraction 157

12.3 Hearing and the Ear 157

12.3.1 The Performance of the Ear 160

12.3.2 Frequency and Pitch 161

12.3.3 Intensity and Loudness 162

12.4 Bats and Echoes 164

12.5 Sounds Produced by Animals 165

12.6 Clinical Uses of Sound 165

12.7 Ultrasonic Waves 166

13 Electricity 168

13.1 The Nervous System 168

13.1.1 The Neuron 169

13.1.2 Electrical Potentials in the Axon 171

13.1.3 The Action Potential 172

13.1.4 The Axon as an Electric Cable 174

13.1.5 Propagation of the Action Potential 175

13.1.6 An Analysis of the Axon Circuit 178

13.1.7 Synaptic Transmission 181

13.1.8 Action Potentials in Muscles 182

13.1.9 Surface Potentials 182

13.2 Electricity in Plants 183

13.3 Electricity in the Bone 184

13.4 Electric Fish 185

14 Electrical Technology 188

14.1 Electrical Technology in Biological Research 188

14.2 Diagnostic Equipment 190

14.2.1 The Electrocardiograph 190

14.2.2 The Electroencephalograph 191

14.3 Physiological Effects of Electricity 192

14.4 Control Systems 194

14.5 Feedback 196

15 Optics 200

15.1 Vision 200

15.2 Nature of Light 201

15.3 Structure of the Eye 201

15.4 Accommodation 202

15.5 Eye and the Camera 203

15.5.1 Aperture and Depth of Field 204

15.6 Lens System of the Eye 205

15.7 Reduced Eye 206

15.8 Retina 208

15.9 Resolving Power of the Eye 209

15.10 Threshold of Vision 211

15.11 Vision and the Nervous System 212

15.12 Defects in Vision 212

15.13 Lens for Myopia 213

15.14 Lens for Presbyopia and Hyperopia 214

15.15 Extension of Vision 215

15.15.1 Telescope 215

15.15.2 Microscope 216

15.15.3 Confocal Microscopy 217

15.15.4 Fiber Optics 220

16 Atomic and Nuclear Physics 224

16.1 The Atom 224

16.2 Spectroscopy 229

16.3 Quantum Mechanics 231

16.4 Electron Microscope 232

16.5 X-Rays 234

16.6 X-Ray Computerized Tomography 235

16.7 The Nucleus 237

16.8 Radiation Therapy 238

16.9 Food Preservation by Radiation 239

16.10 Isotopic Tracers 240

16.11 Magnetic Resonance Imaging 241

16.11.1 Nuclear Magnetic Resonance 242

16.11.2 Imaging with NMR 246

16.12 Atomic Theory and Life 248

Appendix A Basic Concepts in Mechanics 252

Appendix B Review of Electricity 266

Appendix C Review of Optics 272.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 281-288) and index.

ISBN:

0122048407

OCLC:

45943268