Course guide of Physics of Biological Systems (2001112)

Having prior knowledge of Mathematics and Physics at secondary level is highly beneficial. Given the special nature of the group, a good proficiency in English is strongly recommended.

• The relation between Physics and Biology
• Force, work and energy
• Fluid Mechanics
• Diffusion and osmosis
• Electric field and electric current
• Sound waves. Sound and hearing
• Electromagnetic radiation and radioactivity. Applications in Biology

Learning and developing the basic concepts and laws in Physics for their subsequent application to relevant phenomena in Biology:

• Using the concepts of torque and centre of gravity, learning how the levers that appear in the main joints of animals work
• Understanding the meaning of energy conservation laws and their importance in Biology
• Understanding the physical properties of fluids, the characteristics of the surface of a liquid in contact with solids or gases, transport processes in fluids and their application to blood circulation, sap ascent in plants and gas transport through blood capillaries
• Studying the basic concepts of electricity required to understand ion transport through the cell membrane
• Understanding the physical basis of hearing and vision
• Studying the high-energy radiations that are used in various biological and medical applications

INTRODUCTION

• UNIT 1: The relation between Physics and Biology. Measurement standards and unit systems. Dimensional analysis. Size, form and life. Scaling laws. Vectors

FORCE AND STABILITY. WORK AND ENERGY

• UNIT 2: Newton's Laws. Fundamental and derived forces. Torque. Centre of gravity. Equilibrium. Forces in muscles and joints
• UNIT 3: Work done by a force. Kinetic energy and potential energy. Conservation of energy. Power. Efficiency. Metabolic rate. Elasticity. Muscle energy

FLUID MECHANICS

• UNIT 4: Hydrostatics: Density and pressure. Hydrostatic pressure. Archimedes' principle. Hydrostatic examples in Biology
• UNIT 5: Hydrodynamics of an ideal fluid. Continuity equation. Bernoulli's equation. Biological examples
• UNIT 6: Hydrodynamics of a real fluid: Viscosity. Poiseuille's Law. Blood circulation. Stokes' Law. Sedimentation
• UNIT 7: Surface phenomena: Surface tension. Laplace's law. Contact angle and capillarity. Biological examples

DIFFUSION AND OSMOSIS

• UNIT 8: Flux. Fick's laws. Mean squared displacement. Osmosis. Osmotic pressure. Transcapillary substance transfer

ELECTRIC FIELD AND ELECTRIC CURRENT

• UNIT 9: Coulomb's law. Electric field. Electric potential. Electric dipole. Capacitors. Current intensity. Resistance. Ohm's law. Electric properties of membranes. Ion transport through membranes. Action potential. Nerve impulse

SOUND WAVES. SOUND AND HEARING

• UNIT 10: Properties of waves. Sound waves. Sound velocity. Stationary waves. Sound and its perception by living beings

ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION AND RADIOACTIVITY

• UNIT 11: Nature of light. Electromagnetic spectrum. Reflection and refraction. Snell's law. Lenses. Axes and principal planes. Focal and nodal points. The eye as an optical system. Fundamentals of optical instruments. Principles of radiation. Radioactive decay. Half-life. Interaction of radiation and matter. Biological effects. Usage of radioactive isotopes in Biology

LAB SESSIONS

There will be 5 practical sessions consisting of learning uncertainty theory and performing laboratory practices among the following:

1. Precision measurements
2. Static equilibrium. Torque
3. Newton's laws
4. Elastic constant
5. Archimedes' principle
6. Viscosity determination with the Stokes' method
7. Surface tension
8. Multimeter. Ohm's law
9. Determination of gravity's acceleration with a simple pendulum

The student will receive, at the beginning of the course, information about the Safety Regulations and the correct development of the laboratory practices. The document will be available on the PRADO platform of the course. This document must be read and applied during the practices, and failure to comply with it by the student exempts the lecturer who teaches the practical classes and the department where the practices is carried out from any responsibility

• "Physics for the life sciences", A.H. Cromer. McGraw-Hill
• “Physics in Biology and Medicine”, P. Davidovits. Academic Press
• "General Physics", J.W. Kane and M.M. Sternheim. Wiley

• "Physics for Scientists and Engineers", P.A. Tipler y G. Mosca. WH Freeman
• "Physics for Scientists and Engineers", R.A. Serway y J.W. Jewett. Cengage Learning
• "University Physics", Sears, Zemansky, Young y Freedman. Addison-Wesley-Pearson
• "Physics: Principles with Applications", D.G. Giancoli. Pearson
• "What is Life" E. Schrödinger. Cambridge University Press
• "Chance and necessity: an essay on the national philosophy of modern biology", J. Monod. HarperCollins

• https://en.khanacademy.org/science/physics

• MD01. Lección magistral/expositiva 
• MD03. Resolución de problemas y estudio de casos prácticos 
• MD04. Prácticas de laboratorio y/o clínicas y/o talleres de habilidades 
• MD11. Realización de trabajos individuales 

Assessment in the ordinary session will take place via two written tests, with problems and questions covering the relevant material that's been reviewed up to that date plus the grade obtained in the laboratory practices. The final marks in the continuous evaluation system of the ordinary session will have the following weights:

• First written test: 35-40%
• Second written test (same date as the ordinary exam session): 40-45%
• Lab sessions: 20%. In these, the competency will be assessed by a practical test and/or through the lab reports. In order to pass the whole subject, it is mandatory to pass the lab sessions (5 or more points over 10), successfully complete all the sessions and to pass all the corresponding reports and/or the practice exam.

Students will pass the subject by continuous evaluation when their final mark exceeds 5 points (out of 10) according to this weighting scheme.

In the extraordinary session there will be a single final exam (questions and problems) representing 80% of the final mark and an additional exam covering the concepts of the lab sessions, weighting 20%. This lab exam will take place on the same date but at a different time than the written exam of the extraordinary session. It is compulsory to pass the two exams (theoretical and lab) in order to pass the whole subject.

Students will pass the subject by extraordinary evaluation when their final mark exceeds 5 points (out of 10) according to this weighting scheme.

In accordance with the Regulations for Evaluation and Grading of Students of the UGR, a single final evaluation is contemplated for those students who cannot comply with the continuous evaluation method for any of the reasons listed in Article 8. In order to take advantage of the single final evaluation, the student, in the first two weeks of the course, in the two weeks following his enrollment if this has occurred later, or later if there is a supervening cause, will request it through the electronic office, alleging and accrediting the reasons for not being able to follow the continuous evaluation system.

Students who opt for this single final evaluation, will take an exam covering the theoretical part of the subject (questions and problems) representing 80% of the final mark and an additional exam covering the concepts of the lab sessions, weighting 20%. This lab exam will take place on the same date but at a different time than the written exam of the single final session. It is compulsory to pass the two exams (theoretical and lab) in order to pass the whole subject.

Students will pass the subject by single final evaluation when their final mark exceeds 5 points (out of 10) according to this weighting scheme.

Incident evaluation (valid for the ordinary, single final and extraordinary call): Students who cannot attend the final evaluation tests or those scheduled in the Teaching Guide with official date, due to any of the circumstances listed in Article 9 of the Regulations of evaluation and grading of students of the University of Granada, may apply for incident evaluation, following the procedure indicated in that regulation.

• Use of mobile phones is not allowed during lectures and lab sessions

• Following the recommendations of the CRUE and the Secretariat of Inclusion and Diversity of the UGR, the systems of acquisition and evaluation of competences included in this teaching guide will be applied according to the principle of design for all people, facilitating the learning and demonstration of knowledge according to the needs and functional diversity of the students. The teaching methodology and assessment will be adapted to students with NEAE, in accordance with Article 11 of the Regulations on Assessment and Grading of students of the UGR, published in the Official Gazette of the UGR no 112 of 9 November 2016.

• In the case of students with disabilities or other NEAE, the tutorial system must be adapted to their needs, in accordance with the recommendations of the Inclusion Unit of the UGR, and the Departments and Centres will proceed to establish the appropriate measures so that the tutorials are carried out in accessible places. Likewise, at the request of the teaching staff, support may be requested from the competent unit of the University in the case of special methodological adaptations. Information of interest for students with disabilities and/or Specific Educational Support Needs (NEAE): Management of services and support (https://ve.ugr.es/servicios/atencion-social/estudiantes-con-discapacidad).

• In the case of using AI tools for the development of the subject, the student must adopt an ethical and responsible use of them. The recommendations contained in the document ‘Recommendations for the use of artificial intelligence in the UGR’ published in this location must be followed: https://ceprud.ugr.es/formacion-tic/inteligencia-artificial/recomendaciones-ia#contenido0