Physics 304 (Spring) - [credits: 3]
11:00 - 11:50 MWF - Room 205, Jesse Beams Laboratory of Physics
Prerequisites: PHYS 201
or PHYS 231 or PHYS 151 & 152
or PHYS 142E
Corequisite: PHYS 202 or PHYS 232
or PHYS 251
Instructor:
J.V. Noble
Office: 312D, Physics
Tuesdays, 10:-12:00. It goes without saying that I will always see a student by appointment.
Physics of the Human Body expounds the physical basis underlying the form and function of living organisms, and especially the human body. Although medical research and practice is necessarily concerned with complex chemical, structural and organizational details, the physicist's approach is based on intentionally (over)simplified models. Our aim will be to achieve insight and semiquantitative understanding of phenomena ranging from color vision to the performance of athletes. The course is particularly suitable for students majoring in Biology, Chemistry, Premedical studies, Exercise Physiology, or Physics (B.A.). It is an acceptable physics elective for any of the undergraduate Physics
degree programs. More administrative and philosophical
details about this class are available.Texts
C.J. Pennycuick, Newton Rules Biology. This book is out of print, sad to say. You might be able to get a used copy, which you should if you can. It is a very good little book!
Course Lecture Notes by J.V. Noble. Look at them online, but to save your printing budget, I am getting them printed up. They will be in the bookstore REAL SOON NOW.
The reading list has specific recommendations,
as well as some pointers to help you find additional material in hardcopy
and/or on the internet.
Here are some web books on visual physiology
A library of diagnostic electrocardiograms
| Term paper topics & discussion | |
Solutions to Midterm Exam (in *.pdf format)
Lecture Notes Page
Homework assignments
Brownian Motion
Figures and Illustrations