DEPARTMENT: NATURAL SCIENCES

COURSE TITLE: APPLIED PHYSICS FOR HEALTH SCIENCES

COURSE CODE: NSC 113
CREDITS: 2 Theory
1 Practice
LEVEL: I
PLACEMENT: Semester 1
COURSE TYPE: Core
PREREQUISITES: None
CO-REQUISITES: None

COURSE SYNOPSIS

The course is designed to assist the learner to gain knowledge on relevant concepts and fundamental
principles of physics. The course will enable the learner to understand the scientific basis for health
interventions. The laboratory experience will enable the learner to appreciate principles of scientific
measurements and internalize them in the context of health sciences.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of the course, the learner will be able to:

1. Demonstrate understanding of basic concepts and principles of physics in the context of health
sciences.
2. Apply physics laws, concepts and principles; scientific practical and analytical skills; scientific
writing skills in the provision of health care.

COURSE CONTENT

UNIT TOPIC CONTENT

I Introduction  Definition and scope of physics
 Applications in the health sciences

 Fundamental quantities
Measurements  Derived quantities
 Systems of measurements
 Conversion between systems of measurements
 Accuracy
 Precision
 sensitivity
 Uncertainty
II Matter  States of matter
 Characteristics of matter
 Elasticity

Page 1
  Cohesion
 Adhesion
 Capillary action
 Viscosity
 Surface tension
III Mechanics Force and Motion
 Types of forces
 Equations of motion
 Newton’s laws of motion
 Equilibrium
 Principle of moments
 Applications of force and motion
Work, Energy and Simple Machines
 Definition
 Law of conservation of energy
 Principles of Simple machines
 Types of simple machines
 Applications of simple machines

Sound and Physics of hearing

 Nature and properties of sound
 Decibel scale
 Doppler effect
 Ultrasound and Ultra scans
 The ear’s mechanism for sound detection
 Hearing aids
 Stethoscope
Thermodynamics Temperature and Heat
IV  Temperature scales
 Types of thermometers
 Heat transfer
 Refrigeration
Gas Laws
o Ideal gas law
o Boyle’s law
o Charles’ law
o Pressure law
Gay-Lussac’s Law

Atmospheric Pressure and Fluid Pressure

o
 Atmospheric pressure
 Principles of fluid pressure
o Archimedes,
o Pascal
o Bernoulli

Page 2
  Applications of pressure principles
V Light and the Physics of  Nature and properties of light
vision  Images formed by plane mirrors
 Images formed by spherical mirrors
 Image formation by lenses
 Formation of images in the eye
 Eye defects
 Use of lenses for eye defects correctional purposes
 Application
VI Electricity  Electric current, potential, resistance
 Electric power and energy consumption
 Physiological effects of electric current
 Microshock
 Macroshock
 Bio-electric measurements
o Electrocardiogram
o Electroencephalogram
o Pacemaker
o Defibrillator
VII Nuclear Radiation and  Definition
X-rays  Types of radiation α (alpha), β (beta), γ (gamma)
 Natural and artificial radioactivity
 Radioactive decay and half-life
 Measurement of nuclear radiation
 Use of Medical Radioisotopes (MRI)
 Diagnostic and therapeutic use of Radioisotopes
 Types and Hazards of Nuclear radiation
 Safe handling of radioisotopes
 Disposal of radioactive waste
 X-rays

Teaching Methods

Lecture/Discussion; Presentation; Demonstration,

Mode of Assessment
Test 25%
Laboratoy assessment 25%
End of Semester Examination 50%
Total 100%

Readings

1. Nave, C. R., & Nave, B. C. (1985). Physics for the Health Sciences (3rd ed.) London: W.B.
Saunders
2. Cree, L. & Rischmillar, S. (1991 or latest ed.). Science in Nursing (3rd ed.). W.B. Saunders.

Page 3
3. Nelkon. D. (1994 or latest ed.). Principle of Physics. London :W.B Saunders.
4. Hugh, D.Y (1992). University Physics.( 8th ed or latest). Addison-Weshy Publishing
Company.
5. Beiger, A. (1991). Physics. (5th or latest ed.). Addison-Weshy Publishing Company.

Other resources

Audio-visuals; Models; Laboratory manual

Page 4
ADDENDUM A
SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES
UNIT 1
Introduction
- Define Physics
- Discuss the importance of Physics in the health field
Measurement
- State the fundamental quantities of measurements
- Discuss derived quantities e.g. Density, etc.
- Discuss the different systems of measurement
o Metric-Kilogram-Second system (MKS)
o Foot-Pound-Second system (FPS)
o Centimeter-Gramme-Second system (CGM)
o Systeme Internationale (SI)
- Define
o Accuracy
o Precision
o Sensitivity
o Uncertainty
- Explain how the concept of accuracy, precision, sensitivity and uncertainty can be applied in
interpreting measured results.

UNIT II
- State different states of matter.
- Discuss the properties of different states of matter.
- Define
o Elasticity
o Cohesion
o Adhesion
o Capillary action
o Viscosity
o Surface tension

Page 5
- Discuss with examples the physiological and other applications of:
o Elasticity
o Cohesion
o Adhesion
o Capillary action
o Viscosity and
o Surface tension

UNIT III
Force and motion
- Define force
- Differentiate between contact forces and non-contact forces
- Discuss with applications different types of contact forces
o friction,
o tension,
o normal force
o weight
- Discuss with applications different types of non-contact forces
o gravity
o centripetal force
o centrifugal force
o magnetic force
o electrical force
- Define
o distance
o time
o speed
o velocity
o acceleration
- Use the equations of motion to calculate distance, acceleration, velocity, speed and time.
- State Newton’s laws of motion
- Discuss applications of Newton’s laws of motion

Page 6
 o whiplash injuries, etc
- State the different types of equilibrium
- Explain how the principle of equilibrium can be utilized in a medical setting.

UNIT IV
Work, Energy and Simple Machines
- Define
o work
o energy
o power
o efficiency
- State the law of conservation of energy.
- State different forms of energy
- Compute work done when force is applied on an object through a given distance
- Define simple machines
- List the types of simple machines
o Levers
o Pulleys
o Inclined plane
o Hydraulic jack/press

- Discuss the principle of simple machines

o Efficiency of machines
o Multiplication of force/mechanical advantage
- Classify levers with examples
- Differentiate between types of pulleys.
- Give applications of simple machines in the human body as well as in the medical setup.

UNIIT V
Temperature and heat
- Define temperature.
- Compare different types of temperature measurement scales.
- Convert between the different types of temperature scales.
- Discuss the different types of thermometers.

Page 7
 o clinical thermometer
o laboratory thermometer
o digital thermometer
o thermocouple
- Define heat.
- Discuss with applications different types of heat transfer
o conduction
o convection
o radiation
- Discuss the mechanism of a refrigerator.
- Application of refrigeration:
 Storage of drugs and vaccines
 Transportation of blood and specimen

UNIT VI
- State with applications different gas laws.
o Ideal gas laws
o Boyles law
o Charles law
o Pressure law
o Gay-Lussac’s law
- Discuss atmospheric pressure with applications
o Siphon
o Syringe
o Medicine dropper
o Water sealed drainage.
- Discuss with application the principles of fluid pressures
o Archimedes Principle
o Pascal’s Principle
- Water and air mattress
o Bernoulli’s Principle
- Vacuum pump,

Page 8
- Hydraulic Lift,
- Aspirator
- Atomizer

Page 9
UNIT VII
Define
o Electric current
o Electric potential
o Electrical resistance
- State Ohm’s law
- Discuss the physiological effects of electric current
- Discuss hazards related with electricity
o Micro-shock
o Macro-shock
- Discuss types of electrical instruments used for bio-electricity
o Electrocardiogram
o Electroencephalogram
o Pacemaker
o Difibrillator

UNIT VIII
- Discuss the nature of light
- Discuss the properties of light
o Reflection
- Images formed by plane mirrors
- Images formed by spherical mirrors
o Refraction
- Types of lenses: concave and convex
- Image formation by convex lenses
- Image formation by concave lenses
o Snell’s law
- State Snell’s law
- Basic calculations involving; critical angle and refractive index
o Explain total internal reflection
- Discuss image formation in the eye
- Discuss corrective measures for eye defects

Page 10
 o Myopia
o Hyperopia
o Presbyopia
o Astigmatism
- Application
o Microscope
o Opthalmoscope
o Retinoscope
o Magnifying glass

UNIT IX
- Discuss the nature of sound
- Discuss the properties of sound
o Loudness
o Intensity
o Pitch
o Reflection
- Classify types of sounds in terms of their frequencies
- Interpret the decibel levels for a range of sounds
- Discuss the Doppler effect
- Discuss the use of ultra sound in medical imaging
- Discuss the hearing mechanism
- Discuss different types of hearing aids
- Discuss the mechanism of a stethoscope in sound amplification

UNIT X
- Define radioactivity
- Discuss different types of radiation
o Alpha
o Beta
o Gamma
- Compare natural and artificial radiation

Page 11
- Discuss radioactive decay and half-life with examples
- List instruments used to measure radiation
- Explain the use of medically important radioisotopes
e.g. Treatment of opportunistic infection i.e. Karposis sarcoma in HIV/AIDS , etc.
- Discuss types of nuclear radiation hazards
- Discuss safe means of safe handling of radioisotopes
- Discuss safe means of radioactive waste disposal
- Discuss how X-rays are produced
- Discuss the use of X-rays in medical imaging

Page 12
ADDENDUM B: PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES

COURSE OBJECTIVE

OBJECTIVE 1: Demonstrate understanding of basic concepts and principles of physics in the

context of health sciences.

Without reference,

P.O 1.1 convert between different systems of measurements.

P.O 1.2 define accuracy, precession, sensitivity and uncertainty in measurements.

P.O 1.3 and according to previous knowledge, differentiate the states of matter, kinds of matter
and the properties of matter.

P.O 1.4 explain elasticity, cohesion, adhesion, capillary action, viscosity, surface tension.

P.O 1.5 differentiate between types of forces.

P.O 1.6 explain the terms speed, velocity, acceleration, distance.

P.O 1.7 differentiate between Newton’s laws of motion.

P.O 1.8 differentiate between work and energy.

P.O 1.9 and according to text be able to describe different types of simple machines.

P .O 1.10 and according to text be able to explain how different types of thermometers work.

P.O 1.11 relate different types of temperature scales.

P.O 1.12 differentiate between conduction, convection, radiation.

P.O 1.13 explain the operation of a refrigerator.

P.O 1.14 explain Ideal gas law, Boyle’s law, Charles’ law, Pressure law and Gay-Lussac law.

P.O 1.15 explain the principle of atmospheric pressure.

P.O 1.16 explain the principles of fluid pressure; Archimedes, Pascal, Bernoulli.

P.O 1.17 define electric current, electric potential, resistance, power and energy.

P.O 1.18 explain the nature of light.

P.O 1.19 describe properties of light

Page 13
P.O 1.20 describe image formation by different types of lenses

P.O 1.21 explain how images are formed in the eye

P.O 1.22 explain the nature of sound

P.O 1.23 outline the properties of sound

P.O 1.24 define intensity and loudness

P.O 1.25 describe the mechanism of hearing

P.O 1.26 differentiate between, alpha, beta, gamma and X-rays radiation

P.O 1.27 explain radioactive decay and half life

P.O 1.28 list instruments and units used in radiation measurement

P.O 1.29 explain safe means of radioactive waste disposal

Page 14
OBJECTIVE 2

Apply physics laws, concepts and principles; scientific practical and analytical skills; scientific
writing skills in the provision of health care.

Without reference,

P.O 2.1 utilize the concept of accuracy, precision, sensitivity and uncertainty in interpreting
measured results.

P.O 2.2 utilize the concepts of cohesion, adhesion, capillary action to effectively draw fluids in the
clinical area.

P.O 2.3 explain the physiological/clinical importance of elasticity, viscosity and surface tension.

P.O 2.4 apply Newton’s laws of motion in the clinical area.

P.O 2.5 use principles of equilibrium to prevent straining and injury in the clinical area.

P.O 2.6 utilize principles of simple machines to analyze instances in the human body and various
clinical setups.

P.O 2.7 illustrate how different types of heat transfer are utilized in the body and the clinical area.

P.O 2.8 utilize knowledge of heat transfer in the storage/preservation of drugs.

P.O 2.9 utilize gas laws to interpret relevant physiological/clinical processes.

P.O 2.10 apply the concept of atmospheric pressure in the use of siphon, syringe, medicine dropper
and water sealed drainage system.

P.O 2.11 apply the fluid principles of Archimedes, Pascal and Bernoulli in interpreting
physiological/clinical processes.

P.O 2.12 utilize electrical instruments such as, electrocardiogram, pacemaker and
electroencecardiogram, to monitor and regulate physiological processes.

P.O 2.13 apply the concept of electricity in interpreting the physiological effects of electric current.

P.O 2.14 apply knowledge of lenses and the eye to correct vision defects.

P.O 2.15 utilize concepts of sound in diagnosis and correction of hearing defects.

P.O 2.17 utilize knowledge of radiation in diagnosis and therapy.

P.O 2.18 utilize knowledge of radiation in disposal of radioactive waste.

Page 15