78814 - Environmental Physics

Academic Year 2017/2018

  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Health Professions of Prevention Sciences (cod. 8878)

Learning outcomes

The student learns the theoretical basis for the use of the instrumentation needed to control and detect physical phenomena related to living and working environments.

Course contents

Introduction

Scientific notation: definition and application.

Mathematical functions: polynomial, trigonometric, logarithmic and exponential, with applications to the topics discussed.

Physical quantities: the International System; Fundamental and derived quantities. Scalar and vector quantities: definitions and operations on vectors (sum and products) with examples.

Biological effects of ionizing radiation

Definitions of the main physical quantities associated with dosimetry. Radioactive decay. Shielding from radiation according to their type.

Characterization of the type of radiation (electromagnetic and corpuscular waves). Sources of ionizing radiations (radioactive materials, radiogenic tubes, accelerators).

Dose-dependent effects: stochastic and deterministic.

Instruments and regulations.

Effects of non-ionizing electromagnetic fields

Static fields and electromagnetic fields: definition of fundamental physical quantities.

Electromagnetic waves: definition and main parameters (propagation speed, amplitude, frequency, wavelength, phase). Characterization of electromagnetic spectrum as a function of frequency and wavelength.

Interaction with biological matter: description of thermal effects and resonance mechanisms (energy transfer).

Notes on regulatory references.

 

Sound waves and noise pollution

Sound wave properties: definitions.

Measuring units: bel, decibel and phon.

Human ear auditory perception.

Tolerance thresholds: reference to normative reference values.

Readings/Bibliography

Handouts (available on AMS Campus)

Textbook: Elementi di fisica in medicina e biologia, G. Castellani D. Remondini, Bononia University Press 2014

Teaching methods

Frontal lectures, complete with handouts.

Theoretical topics will be handled, and practical exercises will be carried out on discussed topics, with concrete examples of applications.

Assessment methods

Written comprehension test: open questions on theoretical topics, and multiple-choice exercises.

Possible oral test to supplement the result of the written test.

Teaching tools

Handouts on AMS Campus webpage

Office hours

See the website of Daniel Remondini