03281 - Medical Physics

Learning outcomes

At the end of the module, the student possesses the knowledge and understanding of the principles of physics necessary for both the understanding of living matter (in the environmental, biological and medical contexts) and the knowledge of biomedical and biotechnological instrumentation used in rehabilitation.

Course contents

• Physical quantities and units of measurement
• Kinematics (laws of motion): position, velocity and acceleration
• Forces and the principles of dynamics (Newton's laws)
• Uniform circular motion, centripetal and centrifugal force
  
• Levers and torque
  
• Work and energy: potential energy, kinetic energy and conservation of mechanical energy
  
• Pressure
  
• Fluids: density and pressure, Stevin's law, Pascal's principle, Archimedes' thrust
  
• Fluid dynamics: flow rate, Bernoulli's theorem, real fluids
  
• Thermodynamics: heat, heat capacity, heat transfer
  
• Waves
  
• Electromagnetism: the atom and electric charge, electrostatic force, electric potential energy and electric potential, electric current, resistance and Ohm's law
  
• Solids. Traction, compression and Hooke's law. Young's modulus.

Readings/Bibliography

- Elementi di Fisica nelle Scienze Motorie, M. Gombia, N. Lanconelli.

- Fisica applicata alle scienze mediche, G.M. Contessa, G.A. Marzo, Casa editrice ambrosiana, 2019.

- Elementi di Fisica in medicina e biologia, G. Castellani D. Remondini, Bononia University Press, 2014.

Teaching methods

Frontal lectures.

Assessment methods

Closed multiple-choice questions. Each question has 4 answers of which only one is correct.


There are no penalties for wrong or no answers.


Duration: 30 min


The use of a scientific calculator is allowed and recommended, while the use of notes or books is not allowed. Smartphones and tablets or laptops are not allowed.

Teaching tools

Slides presented during the frontal lectures, available on Virtuale.

Office hours

See the website of Francesco Durazzi