39274 - Fundamentals of Physics and Physics of Radiation

Learning outcomes

The student will acquire fundamental knowledge of classical mechanics, thermodynamics, electromagnetic phenomena, waves and oscillations and modern physics. They will learn the application of this knowledge of the phenomena of mechanic, thermodynamics and electromagnetism to biological phenomena.

The student will know the different kind of ionizing radiation and their interaction with matter, as well and the fundamental concepts of dosimetry and radioprotection, including elements of the current legislation, the X ray production and their property, and the qualitative and quantitative analysis of an X ray beam.

Course contents

The course is focused on the teaching of the basic mathematical and physical notions that will be used during the subsequent courses.

The course is divided in two parts:

I-Physical basis

Physical quantities and dimensions

Mechanics, vectors and basic mathematics

Fluid Mechanics : Ideal and real fluids

Oscillations and waves

Heat and Thermodinamics with application to metabolism

Optics: Geometrical and Physical

Electricity and Magnetism

Modern Physics and radioactivity

II- Applications to Medicine with particular focus on the physiological and clinical application such as modern imaging techniques (NMR, PET, SPECT etc)

Radiations in medicine. Radiation-matter interaction, physical quantities in dosimetry. Biological effects and interaction with tissues. Biological effects of ionizing radiation and dose-effect curve for the induction of cancerogenesis.

Radiotherapy: conventional and conformational radiotherapy

Diagnostic: Physical principles of imaging diagnostic. Morfological and functional analysis.

Diagnostic by X rays, radioisotopes, ultrasounds and nuclear magnetic resonance.

Elements of health physics: Radioprotection and quality control in diagnostic radiology. Basic radioprotection legislation.

Readings/Bibliography

Lecture notes will be distributed online

Elementi di fisica in medicina e biologia, Castellani e Remondini

Teaching methods

Frontal lectures

Exercises

Assessment methods

Final exam (written, with optional oral exam)

The test will be composed of 15 multiple-choice questions, to be performed in maximum 2 hours.

Each multiple-choice question will weight 2 point, for a maximum possible mark of 30 points. This will be the proposed mark for the exam.

In a following date (Usually one week after the written test), one will have the option to formally accept the result of the written exam or take an oral exam to modify the result of the test. One needs to have obtained at least 18 in the written test to try the oral exam. The oral exam is necessary to obtain the maximum with laude (30L) score.

Use of calculators will be allowed (their use is actually reccomended), but not of notes or books. Cellphones do not count as calculators

Teaching tools

Frontal lectures with Slides

Office hours

See the website of Enrico Giampieri