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Biophysics
1400141
Academic Year 2020-2021
Dr. Ali Shuaib

General Principles
(Appendix B of textbook)

Course Instructors
• Dr. Ali Shuaib (Course Coordinator)
e-mail: ali.shuaib@ku.edu.kw
• Dr. Ali K. Bourisly
e-mail: ali.bourilsy@ku.edu.kw
Biomedical Engineering Unit
(located on the ground floor)
Department of Physiology
Faculty of Medicine

Course TAs
• Dr. Mohammed Sakr
e-mail: mohamed.sakr@ku.edu.kw
• Dr. Jehan Al-Shammari
e-mail: jehan.alshammari@ku.edu.kw
Department of Nuclear Medicine
Faculty of Medicine 2

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Class and Workshop Times

• Class: once a week for ~ 2 hours.
• Workshop: once a week for ~ 2 hours.

Please check semester

timetable (MS teams) as
times changes from week
to week

Exam Dates & Assessment

Exam Date and time Percentage of
grade
Thursday, 31/12/2020 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Midterm 40%

Sunday, 7/2/2021 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Final 60%

Sunday, 14/2/2021 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Re-sit

• Exams will consist of multiple-choice questions (MCQs)

• A committee made up of different faculty members is responsible for final
grades, not the course coordinator, the course instructors, or TAs.
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Allowable calculators for the exam:

• Casio FX100
• Casio FX100MS
• Casio FX 350MS
• Casio FX 991 ES
• Casio FX 991 ES plus
• Casio FX-570 ES plus
• TI 30X A
• TI 30X Pro
• Casio FX-991 ARX
• Casio 95 MS

Attendance Policies
• Attendance is mandatory
• Attendance will be taken at the beginning of every class by TAs
• In the case of an unexcused absence:
• After 10% of Absences – First warning
• After 15% of Absences – Final warning
• After 20% of Absences – Failure
• Missing 20% unexcused hours of class will result in “F” grade

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Textbook and Lecture Notes

• Textbook:
Franklin, K., Muir, P., Scott, T., Wilcocks, L.,
and Yates, P. Introduction to Biological
Physics for the Health and life sciences.
2010

• Lecture Notes:
Available online on MS teams.

General Policies
• No prerequisites
• Taught in English
• Will cover very basic topics to conceptualizing very advance
topics
• Policy for absence, grievance, attendance, promotion,
assessment, classroom etiquette, demeanor, and dress code
are in accordance with the regulations provided during the
orientation session for the academic year

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Biophysics
Biology: Physics:
• The study of life and living • The study of the nature and
organisms properties of matter and energy.

Biophysics:
The science of the application of the laws of physics to
biological systems (such as the human body)

Theme of this course:

This course will focus on the interaction of different
forms of energy with human tissue to form medical
images: endoscopy, lasers, ultrasound imaging, x-ray,
and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Medical Imaging:

……
……
Image taken during endoscopy procedure X-ray image of hands
.

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Ultrasound image of a human fetus Magnetic resonance image (MRI) of human brain
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Course Objective

• Course Objectives:
- To teach conceptualization of different fundamental principles
in biophysics.
- To teach how different biophysical concepts are applied in
medicine.
- To provide an overview of different medical imaging modalities.

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Course Content
1. General Principles
2. Light and Optics
3. Atomic Physics
4. Heat Transfer in Matter
5. Lasers in Medicine
6. Ultrasound
7. X-ray Vision
8. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

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Experimental Measurement

• Physics, like all sciences, is based on

the verification of hypotheses by
experiments
• Experiments require the measurement
of physical quantities
• All measurement are approximations—
No physical quantity can be measured
with perfect certainty; there are always
errors in any measurement

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Describing Experimental Error

• Experimental error: is the difference between a measurement and the true value and is described by
accuracy and precision.
1. Accuracy of a measurement is the degree of closeness of measurements of a quantity to that
quantity's true value.
2. Precision of a measurement is the degree to which repeated measurements under unchanged
conditions show the same results (i.e., reproducibility and repeatability) that may or may not be the
true value.

• Measurements may be:

1. Accurate, meaning that the measured value is very close to the true value
2. Precise, meaning that multiple measurements give nearly identical values
3. They may be both accurate and precise The goal of scientists
4. Or they may be neither accurate nor precise.

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Conceptual Examples: Accuracy and Precision

The aim is to hit the center of the target

A) C)

(the average location is close to

the center)

D)
B)

(the average location is not close

to the center)

RECALL: Accurate means that the experimental value is very close to the true value
Precise means that the experimental measurements give nearly identical values (are repeatable)
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Example: Accuracy and Precision

• We used 3 different balances to measure the same mass of salt. Measurements were repeated 3 times
• Given: Balance 1 was recently calibrated and gives the most accurate reading

Balance 1 Balance 2 Balance 3

1.896 g 1.125 g 2.000 g
1.895 g 1.125 g 1.895 g
1.895 g
1.894 g 1.126 g 1.790 g
Mean: 1.895 g 1.125 g 1.895 g

Describe the accuracy and precision of each balance:

Given information: True value = 1.895 g
• Balance 1: Accurate and precise.
• Balance 2: Precise, but not accurate.
• Balance 3: Accurate, but not precise.

Experimental Error affects the accuracy and precision of a measurement 16

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Types of Experimental Error

1. Systematic Error
Cause: • caused by mistakes/errors which do not
change during the measurement
• usually comes from the measuring device
itself
Accuracy & Precision: • accuracy of measurements is reduced
• precision not necessarily reduced
2. Random Error
• caused by unknown and unpredictable
changes (from user, measuring instrument,
and/or experimental conditions) during the
experiment
• precision of the measurement is reduced
• accuracy also reduced

Affect of repeating • accuracy cannot be improved by repeating • accuracy can be improved by repeating
measurements: those measurements and taking the average those measurements and taking the average
• because repeated measurements 2. yield
Random. • because repeated measurements yield
results that differ from the true value results that fluctuate above and below
by the same amount the true value

Example: • Poorly made and/or maintained • Faulty reading of instruments by

instruments, faulty calibration of measuring inexperienced user, unnoticed variations in
instruments, etc. measurement technique, tiny changes in the
experimental environment, etc.
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Example: Accuracy and Precision

• We used 3 different balances to measure the same mass of salt. Measurements were repeated 3 times
• Balance 1 was recently calibrated and gives the most accurate reading

Balance 1 Balance 2 Balance 3

1.896 g 1.125 g 2.000 g
1.895 g 1.125 g 1.895 g
1.895 g
1.894 g 1.126 g 1.790 g
Mean: 1.895 g 1.125 g 1.895 g

Describe the accuracy and precision of each balance and the type of experimental error in the measurements (if any):

• Balance 1: Accurate and precise. Minimal experimental error

• Balance 2: Precise, but not accurate. Systematic Error, the balance may not have been zeroed correctly
• Balance 3: Accurate, but not precise. Random Error

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Calculating Experimental Error:

A) For a Single Measurement
1. When the true value is known: 2. When the error in measurement can be
Estimated error
estimated: % Error = Measured value  100%
True Value - Measured Value
% Error =  100% • Example: Calculate the % error of the following
True value
measurement.
• Example: A student experimentally measured the  • Width of book = 7.9 ± 0.1 cm
boiling point of water to be 102 °C. Calculate the Estimated error
 % error in their measurement.
• Estimated error is the smallest
division on measuring device
True value (boiling point of water) = 100 °C
Measured value = 102 °C Estimated Error
% Error =  100%
Measured value
True Value - Measured Value
% Error =  100% 0.1 cm
True value % Error =  100% = 1.3%
o o 7.9 cm
100 C -102 C  1 mm (0.1 cm) is the smallest
% Error =  100%
100o C division on the ruler.

- 2o C 
% Error =  100% = 2%
100o C 19

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

Calculating Experimental Error (continued):

B) For Repeated Measurements
Repeated measurements allow scientist to obtain a better idea of the actual value and characterize the
error of the measurement by calculating the 1) mean 2) the standard deviation
1. Mean ( x ) : 2. Standard deviation (σ):
• Is the sum of the measured values (x) divided • Measures how widely spread the measured
by the number of measured values (n). values are on either side of the mean.
• The mean of x is represented by x anand is • Is given by the formula:
calculated by the following formula:
low σ indicates that
Where xi is the 
i-th measured value of x. the data points tend to
be close to the mean
n

x + x 2 + ...+ x n  x i ( x − x) 2 high σ indicates that

1. x = 1  = 2.
 = i=1
i
the data points are
n n n
spread out over a
wider range of values

The final value of the measurement is reported as:

mean & ± standard deviation
  What is the advantage
 of expressing error as
Experimental error can also be expressed as a %: % Error =  100% %?? 20
x

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Calculating Experimental Error:

Example for Repeated Measurements
• We used different balances to measure the same mass of salt. Measurements were repeated 3 times
n

( x i − x) 2
Balance 1 Balance 3  = i =1
n
1.896 g 2.000 g
(1.896− 1.895) 2 + (1.895− 1.895) 2 + (1.894− 1.895) 2
1.895 g 1.895 g  balance1
=
3
1.894 g 1.790 g (0.001) 2 + (0) 2 + (0.001) 2
 balance1
=
3
= 0.000816= 0.001g
1. Mean: 1.895 g 1.895 g
(2.000− 1.895) 2 + (1.895− 1.895) 2 + (1.790− 1.895) 2
2. Standard deviation: 0.001 g 0.086 g  balance 3
=
3
3. % Error: 0.053%
(0.105) 2 + (0) 2 + (−0.105) 2
4.538%  = balance 3
3
= 0.085732= 0.086g
Compare the error of the balances and the type of experimental error in the measurements (if any):

• Balance 1: Mass = 1.895 g ± 0.001 g • Balance 3: Mass = 1.895 g ± 0.086 g

% Error = 0.053% % Error = 4.538%
Low error Higher error
Minimal experimental error Due to Random Error 21

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Significant Figures
• The number of significant • Example:
figures is the number of figures Measure the width of your textbook.
that are known with some degree Width = 7.9 cm? 8 cm? 7.90 cm????
of reliability • Width = 7.9 cm (2 sig figs)
• Smallest unit that can be
• The least significant digit in a
measured by the ruler = 1 mm = 0.1
measurement depends on the cm
smallest unit which can be
measured by the measuring • Do not write length as 7.90 cm (3 sig
instrument figs) because this implies an uncertainty
on the order of 0.01 cm
• When reporting an experimental
measurement, the measurement 1 mm (0.1 cm) is the smallest
must be rounded to the correct division on the ruler.
number of significant figures
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Rules for determining the number of significant

figures in a measured quantity

1) All nonzero digits are significant: 4) Zeroes to the right of a decimal

• 1.234 g has 4 significant figures
• 1.2 g has 2 significant figures
2) Zeroes between nonzero digits are
significant:
• 1002 kg
has 4 significant figures
• 3.07 mL has 3 significant figures
3) Leading zeros to the left of the first
nonzero digits are not significant; such
zeroes merely indicate the position of
the decimal point:
• 0.001 oC has 1 significant figures
• 0.012 g has 2 significant figures
point in a number are significant:
• 0.0230 mL has 3 significant figures
has 2 significant figures
• 0.20 g
5) When a number ends in zeroes
that are not to the right of a
decimal point, the zeroes are not
necessarily significant:
• 190 miles may be 2 or 3 significant
figures
• 50600 calories may be 3, 4, or 5
significant figures

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Scientific Notation
• In science, it is common to write numbers in the “powers of ten” or “exponential” notation, also
known as "scientific" notation:
• all numbers are written in the form: long form: scientific notation:
=1x
=1x
=1x
exponent
m × 10n =1x
=1x
=1x
coefficient base =1x
=1x
=1x

• In the scientific notation, the number of significant figures (SFs) are clearly expressed, it is the
number of SFs in coefficient.
• The exponent of 10 is the number of places the decimal point must be shifted
• When converting scientific notation to long form: The sign of the exponent tells you the number of
positions the decimal point is shifted: either to the right (positive exponent) or to the left (negative
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Example: Scientific Notation

• Write the following numbers in scientific notation with the correct number
of significant figures: 36900 (3 SF) and 0.0021
• When converting long form notation to scientific notation:

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Example: Scientific Notation

In previous example: 50600 calories may be 3, 4, or 5 significant figures

• Depending on whether the number of significant figures is 3, 4, or 5, we

would write 50600 calories as:
• 5.06 × 104 calories (3 significant figures)
• 5.060 × 104 calories (4 significant figures)
• 5.0600 × 104 calories (5 significant figures)
• By writing a number in scientific notation, the number of significant figures
is clearly indicated by the number of numerical figures in the ’coefficient'
term.

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Rules for determining the number of significant

figures in calculations (adding, subtracting,
multiplying, and dividing)
• Use all available digits in the calculation. Round the solution and not
the intermediate steps.
• When multiplying or dividing two numbers, the solution should be
rounded to the same number of significant figures as the number in
the calculation with the least significant figures. For example
1.193
• = 5.18695622 = 5.2 (2 𝑠. 𝑓)
0.23
• When adding or subtracting numbers, the solution should be rounded
to the same number of decimal places as the number in the
calculation with the least number of decimal places. For example
• 10.1+12.367+0.459 = 21.926 = 21.9 (3 s.f.)
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Calculators and Significant Figures

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Physical Quantities
• Physical quantity is a property of an object that can be measured with a
measuring device.
• Example: Mass, length, volume, force, etc

1. Fundamental/base quantities: 2. Derived quantities:

Physical quantities which are Physical quantities that can be
independent of each other and derived from base quantities by
cannot be further resolved into any multiplication or division
other physical quantity. (do not change
with temperature, time pressure)
Volume, V [m3], Density, r [kg/m3],
Velocity, v [v/s], Force [N]
Length, l [meter], Mass, m [kg], Time, t
[s], Temperature, T [K], Electrical
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Current, I [A]
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Units
• Measurement of physical quantity = (Magnitude) × (Unit)
• Unit: a definite magnitude of a physical quantity, defined and adopted by convention or
by law
• Several systems of units have been in use over the years:
1. SI system or metric system: International System of Units (French: Système International)
2. British engineering system or imperial system

SI Units
•The system of units most commonly
used throughout science and technology today is the
Système International (SI)​
•It consists of seven base quantities and
their corresponding base units​
•Units are multiples of ten (written with prefixes)
which makes converting easier
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SI/Metric System Prefixes

Know these prefixes

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= 5×106 J= 5 MJ
= 48×103 g= 48 kg
= 0.9×10-3 s= 0.9 ms
= 7×10-6 m=7 mm

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Converting Units
• Any quantity we measure (such as length, mass, or time) consists of a
number and a unit
• If we are given a quantity in one set of units, but want it expressed in
another set of units, we must use a conversion factor
• 1 mile = 1.61 km
1 mile = 1.61km Conversion factors are
ratios used to translate
1.61km
1= between units
mile
• Example: Convert 60 miles per hour to km per hour
60 miles 1.61 km km km
x = 96.6 = 97
hr mile hr hr
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Example: Converting Units

• Calculate the number of seconds in a year.
Solution: We know that there are 365 days per year 365 days
year
We want to know : sec
year
Use conversion factors to calculate:

365 days 24 hours 60 min 60 sec = 31536000sec = 3.2x107 sec
x x x
year day hour min year year

  
 
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Dimensional/Unit Analysis
• Dimensional/unit analysis is the analysis of different physical quantities by
identifying their base dimensions (such as length, mass, time, and electric
charge) and units (such as miles vs. kilometers, or pounds vs. kilograms vs.
grams)

Dimensions Units
Dimension of physical quantity is
Physical quantities are measured in units
independent of particular units chosen

Examples
1. Length - L Meters, feet, inches, etc
2. Mass - M Grams, kilograms, etc
3. Time - T Seconds, minutes, hours, etc

Example: Gram
Units of Mass
Kilogram dimension
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Dimensional/Unit Analysis
• Application of analysis:
• To find the unit of a given physical quantity in a given system of units
• To convert a physical quantity from one system to the other
• To check a relationship for correctness by applying these rules:
• We can add or subtract quantities only if they have the same dimensions
• The quantities on each side of the equal sign must have the same dimensions

• Limitations: If the dimensions or units are given, then the physical quantity
may not be unique as many physical quantities can have same
dimensions/units.
• Work, Energy, and Torque have the same dimensions: [ML2T-2] and units: kgm2/s2

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Dimensional Formula
• We can resolve all physical quantities into their base dimensions or units
• The DIMENSIONAL FORMULA is an expression of the physical quantity in terms of its base
dimensions. It has the general form, [X] = [Ma Lb Tc], where X is the physical quantity
• Example:

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Workshops
• Attend workshop for more examples and problem-solving techniques and
tips.

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