Medical Physics
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
The course aims to provide students with:
i) the basics of the scientific method,
ii) knowledge of the fundamental concepts of physics underlying the structure and functionality of the organism,
iii) the physical principles underlying the main diagnostic methods.
i) the basics of the scientific method,
ii) knowledge of the fundamental concepts of physics underlying the structure and functionality of the organism,
iii) the physical principles underlying the main diagnostic methods.
Expected learning outcomes
Students:
a) know the main physical quantities of relevance for medical physics and for understanding the structure and functionality of the organism;
b) learn to apply the knowledge of such quantities within exemplary problems;
c) learn the physical and technological bases of diagnostics, with particular attention to imaging diagnostics.
a) know the main physical quantities of relevance for medical physics and for understanding the structure and functionality of the organism;
b) learn to apply the knowledge of such quantities within exemplary problems;
c) learn the physical and technological bases of diagnostics, with particular attention to imaging diagnostics.
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Course syllabus
- 1D and 2D kinematics of material point.
- Fundamentals of dynamics: principles of dynamics, force, work and energy, weight, normal force, elastic force, friction force, kinetic energy theorem, conservative force fields, potential energy, conservation of mechanical energy, conservation of quantity of motion, conservation of momentum.
- Thermology and thermodynamics: thermal expansion, temperature and heat, gas law and absolute temperature, elements of kinetic theory of gases, gas mixtures, solubility of gases in liquids, breathing at high pressure; specific heat, phase transitions and latent heat, mechanisms of heat propagation, thermoregulation of the human body, principles of thermodynamics.
- Mechanics of rigid body: center of mass, torque, rotational and translational equilibrium, levers in the human body; stress and strain (normal, shear, bending and twisting), Hooke laws and elastic moduli; mechanical properties of bones and soft tissues.
- Fluid statics and dynamics: pressure, Stevin, Pascal and Archimedes' laws, flow rate in a pipe, idela fluids and Bernoulli's theorem, real fluids and viscosity, laminar flow and Poiseuille's theorem, hydraulic resistance, turbulent regime and Reynolds number, notes on heart work and power; surface tension, contact angle, capillarity, Laplace's law.
- Electric and magnetic phenomena: electric charge, Coulomb's force, electric field and potential, flat capacitor, conducting and dielectric materials, electric current and resistance, Joule effect, impedance and RC circuits, defibrillator, membrane potential; magnetic field, solenoid, coil in magnetic field, voltmeter, EEG.
- Waves: wavelength and frequency, wave equation, electromagnetic waves spectrum, interference, stationary waves; acoustic waves, Doppler effect, sound and hearing, intensity, echography; propagation of electromagnetic waves, absorbance and quantification of DNA and protein concentration, fluorescence, light scattering, flow cytometry.
- Optics: reflection and refraction, refractive index, dispersion, lenses and image formation, diffraction and resolution limit, eye, accommodation and defects, optical microscope.
- Nuclear phenomena and radiation-matter interactions: binding energy and nuclear stability, radiation types, radioactivity and decay time, elements of dosimetry and biological effects of radiations, X ray production and formation of radiological images; nuclear magnetic moment and magnetic resonance imaging.
- Fundamentals of dynamics: principles of dynamics, force, work and energy, weight, normal force, elastic force, friction force, kinetic energy theorem, conservative force fields, potential energy, conservation of mechanical energy, conservation of quantity of motion, conservation of momentum.
- Thermology and thermodynamics: thermal expansion, temperature and heat, gas law and absolute temperature, elements of kinetic theory of gases, gas mixtures, solubility of gases in liquids, breathing at high pressure; specific heat, phase transitions and latent heat, mechanisms of heat propagation, thermoregulation of the human body, principles of thermodynamics.
- Mechanics of rigid body: center of mass, torque, rotational and translational equilibrium, levers in the human body; stress and strain (normal, shear, bending and twisting), Hooke laws and elastic moduli; mechanical properties of bones and soft tissues.
- Fluid statics and dynamics: pressure, Stevin, Pascal and Archimedes' laws, flow rate in a pipe, idela fluids and Bernoulli's theorem, real fluids and viscosity, laminar flow and Poiseuille's theorem, hydraulic resistance, turbulent regime and Reynolds number, notes on heart work and power; surface tension, contact angle, capillarity, Laplace's law.
- Electric and magnetic phenomena: electric charge, Coulomb's force, electric field and potential, flat capacitor, conducting and dielectric materials, electric current and resistance, Joule effect, impedance and RC circuits, defibrillator, membrane potential; magnetic field, solenoid, coil in magnetic field, voltmeter, EEG.
- Waves: wavelength and frequency, wave equation, electromagnetic waves spectrum, interference, stationary waves; acoustic waves, Doppler effect, sound and hearing, intensity, echography; propagation of electromagnetic waves, absorbance and quantification of DNA and protein concentration, fluorescence, light scattering, flow cytometry.
- Optics: reflection and refraction, refractive index, dispersion, lenses and image formation, diffraction and resolution limit, eye, accommodation and defects, optical microscope.
- Nuclear phenomena and radiation-matter interactions: binding energy and nuclear stability, radiation types, radioactivity and decay time, elements of dosimetry and biological effects of radiations, X ray production and formation of radiological images; nuclear magnetic moment and magnetic resonance imaging.
Prerequisites for admission
Basic principles of mathematics and physics, as required by the admission notice. Powers, logarithms, algebraic calculation, Euclidean geometry (polygons, circle, measures of lengths, surfaces and volumes), elements of trigonometry. Basic notions on the principles of mechanics, thermodynamics and electrostatics.
Teaching methods
The program will be carried out in part through frontal lectures, with slide projection and live discussions. Some topics will be treated through Team-Based Learning, with assigned materials to be prepared in asynchronous way and group activities during the lectures. Some topics, present in the syllabus, will be autonomously treated by the students, with assignments.
Group exercises will be held in the classroom (1 CFU), in which students will carry out, personally and/or in small groups, a series of exercises proposed by the instructor and under his guidance.
Lecture slides will be provided on MyAriel platform together with additional materials, like links to online resources and specific topics of medical physics, not available on general physics textbooks.
The asynchronous and TBL activities will be managed on the Moodle platform.
Group exercises will be held in the classroom (1 CFU), in which students will carry out, personally and/or in small groups, a series of exercises proposed by the instructor and under his guidance.
Lecture slides will be provided on MyAriel platform together with additional materials, like links to online resources and specific topics of medical physics, not available on general physics textbooks.
The asynchronous and TBL activities will be managed on the Moodle platform.
Teaching Resources
- Giancoli "Fisica. Principi e applicazioni", Zanichelli
- Scannicchio "Fisica Biomedica", EdiSES
- Cerbino "Problemi di fisica biomedica", EdiSES
- Openstax College Physics: https://openstax.org/details/books/college-physics
The suggested books are for reference only. The students can rely on the lecture notes and can freely choose their reference books to study the topics in the syllabus.
- Scannicchio "Fisica Biomedica", EdiSES
- Cerbino "Problemi di fisica biomedica", EdiSES
- Openstax College Physics: https://openstax.org/details/books/college-physics
The suggested books are for reference only. The students can rely on the lecture notes and can freely choose their reference books to study the topics in the syllabus.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The final grade, expressed as a grade out of 30, will combine the outcome of:
a) a final written text, with open problems and multiple choice questions, which will provide a score up to 25/30; it is deemed as successfully completed when the score is equal to or higher than 15/30. It is not allowed to consult textbooks or notes, while the use of calculator is suggested;
b) activities in Team-Based Learning and assignment associated to the asynchronous lectures, with a temporal deadline, which will provide a score up to 5/30;
c) an oral examination, upon request by the teacher or the student, in which the ability to express the various topics in a clear, precise and rational manner will be evaluated. The oral examination can modify the score up to +/- 5 points.
The evaluation of assigments, of TBL modules and of the written exam, as well as the final grade, will be published on MyAriel.
a) a final written text, with open problems and multiple choice questions, which will provide a score up to 25/30; it is deemed as successfully completed when the score is equal to or higher than 15/30. It is not allowed to consult textbooks or notes, while the use of calculator is suggested;
b) activities in Team-Based Learning and assignment associated to the asynchronous lectures, with a temporal deadline, which will provide a score up to 5/30;
c) an oral examination, upon request by the teacher or the student, in which the ability to express the various topics in a clear, precise and rational manner will be evaluated. The oral examination can modify the score up to +/- 5 points.
The evaluation of assigments, of TBL modules and of the written exam, as well as the final grade, will be published on MyAriel.
FIS/07 - APPLIED PHYSICS - University credits: 6
Informal teaching: 16 hours
Lessons: 50 hours
: 10 hours
Lessons: 50 hours
: 10 hours
Professor:
Zanchetta Giuliano
Shifts:
Gruppo 1
Professor:
Zanchetta GiulianoGruppo 2
Professor:
Zanchetta GiulianoTurno
Professor:
Zanchetta GiulianoEducational website(s)
Professor(s)
Reception:
On appointment
LITA Segrate or online