Physics, statistics and computer science 4

Module Medical physics

The course has the stated objective of providing adequate knowledge and understanding of the fundamental physical laws that govern biomedical processes, as well as skills in applying knowledge and the ability to understand basic scientific language.

Applying knowledge and understanding:

Develop the ability to frame and understand the physical phenomena underlying medical physics and to recognize, use and apply them in real medical situations

Making judgments:

The student must be able to frame a problem and independently develop solutions

Communication skills:

The student will acquire the necessary communication skills and appropriateness of expression in the use of technical and scientific language

Learning skills:

The course aims to provide the student with the necessary theoretical knowledge and methodologies to be able to address, study and understand the underlying functioning of the various methodologies and situations with which he/she will have to deal in his/her professional work

Lectures and classroom exercises.

If the course is delivered in blended or distance learning mode, any necessary changes may be introduced with respect to what was previously stated, to comply with the planned program and the syllabus.

Information for students with disabilities and/or specific Learning Disorders (LDs)

To ensure equal opportunities and in compliance with current legislation, interested students may request a personal meeting to plan any compensatory and/or dispensatory measures, based on their learning objectives and specific needs.

Students may also contact our Department's representative of CInAP (Center for Active and Participatory Integration - Services for Disabilities and/or LDs).

1. Basic introductory notions and reminders: Algebraic calculus. Units of measurement and dimensional equations. Quantifying a quantity. The concept of error. Units of measurement of the International System (SI): time, mass, length. Prefixes. Derived units. Dimensional equations. Vectors.

2. Rigid body mechanics: The concept of force. Effects on translational and rotational motion. Equations of motion. Newton's laws. Equilibrium conditions. Levers. Levers of the human body. Elasticity of deformable bodies. Hooke's law. Fractures.

3. Fluids and their applications: Definition of fluid. Characteristic quantities. Pressure. Notes on the kinetic theory of gases. Use of high-pressure cylinders. Pascal's principle. Blood pressure and the sphygmomanometer. Stevino's law. The hyperbaric chamber. Archimede's principle. Fluids in motion. Equation of continuity and Bernoulli's law. Capillarity. Principle of communicating vessels. The IV drip. Real fluids: blood.

4. Thermal Physics: Open, closed and isolated systems. Concept of heat and temperature. Temperature measurement. Thermal expansion of bodies. Thermometer calibration. Basal metabolism. Thermoregulation in humans. Changes of state.

5. Electric and magnetic phenomena: Electric charges. Structure of the atom. Methods of charging bodies. Electric field. Electric potential. Capacitors. Electric current. Electric resistance. Effects of electric current on humans, ECG, EEG. Magnetic materials. Sources of magnetic fields. Effect of a magnetic field on moving charges. Magnetic fields produced by currents. Defibrillator.

6. Wave phenomena: Mechanical and electromagnetic waves. Ultrasound. Characteristic quantities of a wave. Doppler effect. Interference, diffraction, refraction, and reflection of waves. Electromagnetic spectrum. Main diagnostic methods.

7. Electromagnetic and corpuscular radiation: Ionizing radiation. Radioactive decay. Principles of dosimetry. Radiation protection. Effects of ionizing radiation at the cellular level. Fields of application of ionizing radiation.

--------------------------------------

The topics listed will be covered in program order, as indicated (see the number of individual lessons). The number of individual lessons may vary, obviously, based on the progress of the course in progress or the response of the students in the classroom.

The first, second and third volumes are more of an applied nature and of interest in the biomedical field.

The fourth and fifth volumes are intended to clarify and deepen the basic notions.

Final Course Assessment

Multiple choice tests, open-ended questions, and/or exercises.

Passing the written exam grants access to the oral exam (optional). It is also possible to choose to confirm the written exam grade.

Essential minimum knowledge required to pass the exam:

• Even before formulas, the student must have a good understanding of various definitions and comprehend the physical meaning of concepts; additionally, they should be able to connect topics and highlight any parallels (examples: different forms of Newton's second law, electric field vs. magnetic field, etc.). It is important not to memorize things but to be able to explain them.

• Be able to recognize (and manipulate) scalar and vector quantities. Be capable of converting from one unit of measurement to another.

• Be able to graphically represent phenomena (examples: motion of bodies, image construction with mirrors and lenses, state transformations, …).

• Understand the basic physics of the main biomedical techniques analyzed during the course.