The essential content and goals of this course are briefly outlined below. See the other tabs for practical issues involving grades, schedule, contacting TAs and the Instructor, etc.
Course Description:
Physics for Life Sciences I builds upon prerequisite knowledge in college level biology, chemistry, and mathematics to present introductory physics that will be useful for applying physical principles, insights, and problem solving approaches for students with life science majors. Content will feature the Newtonian framework with emphasis on friction, drag, and viscosity, random motion & diffusion, fluid flow, the Coulomb force, molecular forces and bonding, momentum, conservation of energy, entropy, and the first & second laws of thermodynamics.
Prerequisites:
Two semesters of introductory biology (e.g. BIOL 110 & 110 or equivalent), two semesters of college level math including calculus (e.g. MATH 231 & 232 or equivalent), and one semester chemistry (e.g. CHM 109 or 115, or equivalent).
Learning Outcomes:
Students will understand how motion in realistic biological systems (e.g. cells, biomolecules) is governed by forces, how molecular binding is described in terms of energy, how diffusion is governed on a microscopic level, and will have insight into how the first and second laws of thermodynamics constrain basic processes in living systems.
Outline of topics covered:
A. Modeling with Mathematics
Dimensions, units, measurements, making proper estimates, constructing models.
B. Describing Motion
Coordinates, vectors, how to read graphs, derivatives, instantaneous versus average motion, relating position, velocity, & acceleration.
C. What Causes Motion
Inertia, interactions, mass, Newton’s 1st & 2nd laws, system schemas, free body diagrams, the 3rd law (reciprocity).
D. Types of Forces
Normal force, weight, springs, tension, resistive forces, gravity, Coulomb force, polarization, electric & gravitational fields.
E. Coherent vs. Diffusive Motion
Momentum, conservation of momentum, random walks, diffusion, Fick’s Law, do forces drive diffusive motion?
F. Models of Matter
Density, Young’s modulus, mechanical properties of cells.
G. Forces and Motion in Fluids
Pressure, ideal gas law, buoyancy, continuity equation, surface tension, inertial drag force, viscous drag force, Reynolds number, Hagen-Poiseuille relation.
H. Energy – The First Law of Thermodynamics
Work and kinetic energy, potential energy (gravitational, electric, spring), conservation of mechanical energy, thermal energy, chemical bonding, heat and temperature.
I. Entropy – The Second Law of Thermodynamics
Heat transfer, heat capacity, counting statistics, the direction of time, micro to macro connection.
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If a student is found cheating on an exam, he or she will receive a zero score for the affected exam. Cheating on HW, quizzes, clickers, or recitations will result in a zero TOTAL score for that grade category. Any cheating will be reported to the Dean of Students, which may result in additional actions.