Introductory physics for biological scientists

464 Pages·2018·17.327 MB·English

by  Christof M. Aegerter

IntroductoryPhysicsforBiologicalScientists
Why do elephants have sturdier thigh bones than humans? Why can’tostriches fly? How
dobacteriaswimthroughfluids?
With each chapter structured around relevant biological case studies and examples,
this engaging, full-color book introduces fundamental physical concepts essential in the
study of biological phenomena. Optics is introduced within the context of butterfly wing
coloration,electricityisexplainedthroughthepropagationofnervesignals,andaccelerated
motion is conveniently illustrated using the example of the jumping armadillo. Other
key physical concepts covered include waves, mechanical forces, thermodynamics, and
magnetism, and important biological techniques are also discussed within this context,
such as gel electrophoresis and fluorescence microscopy. A detailed appendix provides
further discussion of the mathematical concepts utilized within the book, and numerous
exercisesandquizzesallowreaderstotesttheirunderstandingofkeyconcepts.Thisbook
is invaluable to students aiming to improve their quantitative and analytical skills and
understandthedeepernatureofbiologicalphenomena.
ChristofM.Aegerter is a professor of physics at the University of Zurich. He has extensive
researchexperienceinbiologicalandsoftcondensedmatterphysics,specificallybioimag-
ing and the dynamics of biological growth. He currently teaches a course for first-year
biology students, demonstrating introductory physics with examples from the biological
sciences.

Introductory Physics for Biological
Scientists
CHRISTOF M. AEGERTER
UniversitätZürich
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www.cambridge.org
Informationonthistitle:www.cambridge.org/aegerter
DOI:10.1017/9781108525862
©ChristofM.Aegerter2018
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Firstpublished2018
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LibraryofCongressCataloging-in-PublicationData
Names:Aegerter,ChristofM.,author.
Title:Introductoryphysicsforbiologicalscientists/
ChristofM.Aegerter,Universita¨tZu¨rich.
Description:Cambridge,UnitedKingdom;NewYork,NY:CambridgeUniversity
Press,2018.|Includesbibliographicalreferencesandindex.
Identifiers:LCCN2018018453|ISBN9781108423342(hardback)
Subjects:LCSH:Physics.
Classification:LCCQC21.3.A362018|DDC530–dc23
LCrecordavailableathttps://lccn.loc.gov/2018018453
ISBN978-1-108-42334-2Hardback
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Contents
Preface:HowtoUseThisBook pageix
1 PhysicsasaBasisforDescribingBiologicalSystems 1
1.1 PhysicalEffectsinBiologicalSystems 1
1.2 Physics-BasedMethodsforInvestigatingBiologicalSystems 11
1.3 ActingandThinkingLikeaPhysicist:HowtoGainScientificKnowledge 16
QuizQuestions 23
2 Errors,Units,andScalingLaws 25
2.1 UncertaintiesandErrorPropagation 25
2.2 UnitsandDimensionalAnalysis 36
2.3 ScalingLaws 42
Exercises 52
QuizQuestions 58
3 MotionsandOscillations 61
3.1 DescribingMotions:VelocityandAcceleration 61
3.2 PeriodicMotions:Oscillations 67
3.3 DescribingAnyOscillationinTermsofHarmonicOnes:FourierSeries 73
3.4 MotionsinTwoandThreeDimensions 76
3.5 ACircularMotionIsanOscillation 80
3.6 CircularMotionasaPopulation-DynamicSystem 83
3.7 *NonlinearDynamicalSystemsinEcology 85
3.8 *DampedandCoupledOscillations 88
Exercises 95
QuizQuestions 95
4 ResonancesandWaves 98
4.1 How Resonances and Waves Determine How We Interact
withtheEnvironment 98
4.2 ForcedOscillationsandResonance 99
4.3 One-DimensionalandHarmonicWaves 106
4.4 WavesAreTransportingEnergy 111
4.5 ThePhysiologyandPhysicsofHearing 112
4.6 FourierTransforms 115
v
vi Contents
4.7 ThePrincipleofSuperposition 119
4.8 WaveMechanicsandHeisenberg’sUncertaintyPrinciple 135
4.9 *TheDopplerEffect 138
Exercises 140
QuizQuestions 143
5 Optics,Light,andColors 151
5.1 HowLightInteractswithMatterandWhatWeCanLearnfromThis 151
5.2 RefractionandReflection 152
5.3 InterferenceandDiffraction 154
5.4 Polarization 170
5.5 GeometricOptics 175
5.6 Absorption,Colors,andFluorescence 203
5.7 *AbsorptionofRadiation 208
Exercises 211
QuizQuestions 213
6 ForcesandNewton’sLawsofMotion 217
6.1 ForcesandTheirOrigin 217
6.2 EquationsofMotion 227
6.3 ConservationofMomentum 239
6.4 EnergyandItsConservation 244
Exercises 254
QuizQuestions 257
7 ContinuumMechanics 260
7.1 ElasticityandMaterials 260
7.2 StressandStrain:Hooke’sLaw 263
7.3 BendingaBeam 271
7.4 FlowingandShearStress 273
7.5 SurfaceTension 274
7.6 Fluids 282
7.7 FlowthroughPipesandBloodFlow 293
7.8 *CellsandTissuesAreNeitherLiquidnorSolid:Viscoelasticity 302
Exercises 305
QuizQuestions 308
8 Heat,Temperature,andEntropy 310
8.1 HowtheInterplayofManyParticlesLeadstotheWholeBeingMore
thantheSumofItsParts 310
8.2 TemperatureandtheIdealGas 316
8.3 TransportviaRandomProcesses 321
8.4 EntropyandtheLawsofThermodynamics 333
vii Contents
8.5 *TheInfluenceofThermalMotiononMaterialsProperties 341
8.6 *NonequilibriumProcesses 349
Exercises 356
QuizQuestions 360
9 ElectricalChargesandCurrents 363
9.1 ElectricCharges,Fields,andPotentials 363
9.2 ElectricFieldsandPotentialsofSpecificChargeDistributions 369
9.3 MolecularInteractionsandBonds 377
9.4 ElectricalCurrents 382
9.5 *PropagationofNerveSignals 389
Exercises 395
QuizQuestions 398
10 Magnetism 401
10.1 MagneticFieldsinBiology 401
10.2 PropertiesofMagneticFields 402
10.3 MassSpectrometry 407
10.4 *NuclearMagneticResonance 408
Exercises 417
QuizQuestions 418
AppendixA MathematicalTools 420
AppendixB SolutionstoQuizzes 441
References 444
Index 447