Course contents
Physical quantities and their measurement.
Mechanics.
Kinematics of a particle. Newton’s laws. Conservation of momentum. Rectilinear motion: constant velocity and constant acceleration. Sedimentation. Centrifugation. Simple harmonic motion. Kinetic energy and work-kinetic energy theorem. Potential energy and conservation of mechanical energy.
Mechanics of fluids.
Equilibrium of a fluid: Pascal’s principle, hydrostatic pressure, Archimedes’ principle. Surface tension and capillarity. Bernoulli’s equation and its applications. Laminar flow and turbulent flow: viscosity, Poiseuille law. Blood flow.
Thermodynamics.
Ideal gases. Work in thermodynamics. Heat and temperature. First law of thermodynamics. Heat capacity and specific heat capacity. Phase transitions and latent heats. Diffusion: Fick’s first law. Osmosis: Van’t Hoff’s laws. Second law of thermodynamics and entropy.
Acoustics and optics.
Law of propagation of elastic waves. Characteristics of sound. Doppler effect. Laws of reflection and refraction. Spherical refracting surface. Thin lenses. Simple and compound microscope and their magnification. Field depth and resolving power of the microscope. Visual acuity. Convergence defects.
Electricity and magnetism.
Electric charge. Electric field. Electric capacity. Direct current. Ohm’s law. Thermal effect of current. Electrolytic conductors. Electrolysis: Faraday’s laws. Electrophoresis. Magnetic effect of current. Electromagnetic induction.
Basic notions of radioactivity and biological effects of ionizing radiation.
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