49
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
R. Chandrappa, D. B. Das, Environmental Health - Theory and Practice,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-64480-2_2
Chapter 2
Fundamentals of Physics
for Environmental and Medical
Professionals
Abstract Knowledge of physics has been widely used in engineering and medical
sciences. Movement of pollutants in the environment, separation of pollutants from
waste streams, design and use of instruments required in medical and environmental
fields, and spread of pathogens in air/water/soil need understanding of the fundamentals of physics. Knowledge of branches of physics such as electricity, radiation,
mechanics, and heat transfer is also required by both medical and environmental
professionals. This chapter discusses the fundamentals of physics, which are often
the bases of environment and medical sciences.
2.1 Introduction
Knowledge of physics has been widely used in engineering and medical sciences.
While the medical physics deals with the application of physics in medical science,
environmental professionals would be more interested in physical concepts relating
to the movement of pollutants in the environment and separation of pollutants from
waste streams in air, water, and soil.
The human body goes through a complex series of interactions among the skeletal, muscular, and nervous systems. Biomechanics (mechanics of living organisms)
and kinesiology (the study of movement of living organisms) are specializations
that consider fundamentals of mechanics in human body. Kinesiology addresses
biomechanical, physiological, psychological, and dynamic principles besides
mechanisms of movement. Locomotion, including human movement, requires
energy to overcome various forces such as friction, inertia, drag, and gravity that
varies with environment. In a nutshell, understanding of statics and dynamics helps
to safeguard human health at workplaces and environment by use of personal protective equipment (PPE), housekeeping, social distancing, warning signage, control
of workplace environmental temperature/humidity, etc.
Health physics is devoted to protecting the people and environment from potential radiation hazards, and making it possible to enjoy the beneficial uses of radiation.
Chemical energy is the form of potential energy stored in chemical bonds; when
they break, chemical energy is released. In addition to chemical energy, radiant,
mechanical, and electrical energies are important in functioning of human body.
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
R. Chandrappa, D. B. Das, Environmental Health - Theory and Practice,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-64480-2_2
Chapter 2
Fundamentals of Physics
for Environmental and Medical
Professionals
Abstract Knowledge of physics has been widely used in engineering and medical
sciences. Movement of pollutants in the environment, separation of pollutants from
waste streams, design and use of instruments required in medical and environmental
fields, and spread of pathogens in air/water/soil need understanding of the fundamentals of physics. Knowledge of branches of physics such as electricity, radiation,
mechanics, and heat transfer is also required by both medical and environmental
professionals. This chapter discusses the fundamentals of physics, which are often
the bases of environment and medical sciences.
2.1 Introduction
Knowledge of physics has been widely used in engineering and medical sciences.
While the medical physics deals with the application of physics in medical science,
environmental professionals would be more interested in physical concepts relating
to the movement of pollutants in the environment and separation of pollutants from
waste streams in air, water, and soil.
The human body goes through a complex series of interactions among the skeletal, muscular, and nervous systems. Biomechanics (mechanics of living organisms)
and kinesiology (the study of movement of living organisms) are specializations
that consider fundamentals of mechanics in human body. Kinesiology addresses
biomechanical, physiological, psychological, and dynamic principles besides
mechanisms of movement. Locomotion, including human movement, requires
energy to overcome various forces such as friction, inertia, drag, and gravity that
varies with environment. In a nutshell, understanding of statics and dynamics helps
to safeguard human health at workplaces and environment by use of personal protective equipment (PPE), housekeeping, social distancing, warning signage, control
of workplace environmental temperature/humidity, etc.
Health physics is devoted to protecting the people and environment from potential radiation hazards, and making it possible to enjoy the beneficial uses of radiation.
Chemical energy is the form of potential energy stored in chemical bonds; when
they break, chemical energy is released. In addition to chemical energy, radiant,
mechanical, and electrical energies are important in functioning of human body.