Physics of the Human Body
Believe it or not, your body is a veritable physics laboratory. The blood that is pumping through your veins is a vital example of Poiseuille flow; when you run, friction is needed to propel you forward; and the quality of your eyesight shows how optics work. These insights and many more are showcased by Richard McCall in Physics of the Human Body.
Each chapter in the book focuses on a single basic physics concept and relates it to human anatomy and physiology. For example, the opening chapter discusses motion; here we take a close look at the forces and torques that allow us to walk, lift an object, and maintain balance. Fluids and pressure in the body are the topic of another chapter, in which we investigate everything from blood pressure to eye pressure. We learn that as the cross-sectional area of the circulatory system changes in different parts of the body, so does the speed of blood in these different sections. McCall turns next to energy, showing how metabolism works and how body temperature is regulated.
How do the principles of sound apply to human speech and hearing? The book investigates a host of relevant phenomena ranging from the production of sounds in the larynx to hearing problems. Similarly covered are the electrical properties of the body, including the conduction of electrical signals along neurons. The biological effects of nuclear radiation are the subject of another chapter. If you’ve ever wondered how radiation damages human tissue as well as its potential benefits in treating cancer, you’ll find the answers here. A final chapter focuses on the topic of drug concentrations in the body.
Physics of the Human Body shows how many physical principles can be observed just by studying ourselves.
Softcover : 312 pages
Publisher: Johns Hopkins University Press ( April 26, 2010 )
Item #: 13-367835
ISBN: 9780801894565
Product Dimensions: 5.9 x 8.9 inches
Product Weight: 15.0 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
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