Stage:1

Medical  Physics
Theoretical
Lec:8

Medical Physics  
Energy, Work and 
power of the​ body 
Falih. A. Aziz 

Assis /Prof. Medical Physics  

College of Pharmacy in University of Mosul  

4th May, 2020 

Lecture 8 
   

 
ENERGY, WORK AND POWER OF THE BODY
In the physics of the body energy is of primary importance, and is a basic
concept of physics .
All activities of the body including
Thinking ,
Doing work , or
Keeping the body temperature constant involve energy changes
The processes involved in the energy intake, storage, and use by the body
are collectively called the metabolism; the discipline describing this area
is sometimes called bioenergetics.

power of the body

Metabolic processes can be divided into
1- catabolic and,
2- anabolic reactions.
In catabolic reactions complex molecules are broken into simple ones, for
purposes such as energy usage.
In anabolic reactions simple molecules are combined to form complex
ones, for purposes such as energy storage.

The body uses food to

(1) operate organs,
some of the heat (2) maintain a constant body temperature by using
that is generated by operating the organs (while the rest is rejected),
(3) do external work, and
(4) build a stored energy supply (fat) for later needs. About 5–10% of the
food energy intake is excreted in the feces and urine.

We will first consider the basics of the conservation of

energy(thermodynamics). Then we will examine the energy content of
food and the way it is stored in the body. We will see what the body’s
metabolic rate needs to be to perform tasks. (This is technically the
catabolic rate.) We will then analyze how the body loses energy as heat.
For example under resting (basal) condition about :
25% of the body's energy is being used by the skeletal muscles and the
heart .
19% is being used by the brain .
10% is being used by the kidneys .
27% is being used by liver and spleen .
And a small percentage of about 5% of food energy being excreted in
feces and urine, and extra food energy will be stored mainly as body fat .

The energy used to operate the organs eventually appears as body heat
some of this heat is useful in maintaining the body at its normal temp.,
and the rest must be disposed of .
Other energy source
such as
radiant solar energy and
heat energy from our surroundings
can help to maintain body temperature
but are of use in body functions .

Conservation of energy in the body

A simple equation can be expressed conservation
of energy in the body can be written as :
Change in stored energy in the body (i.e. food energy, body fat, and body
heat) = heat lost from the body + work done.
This equation is similar to the first law of thermodynamics which can be
written in the form :
ΔU = Δ Q - ΔW
This law also can be written as :
Δ Q = Δ U + ΔW

Where
ΔU is the change in stored energy.
ΔW is the work done by the body.
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 (that is, if heat is added it can increase the internal energy ΔU and also
do work ΔW )

O2
Work done
Body

Food
Energy Heat Loss

Input = Energy storage + Output

Fig: Energy flow into and from the body

A cyclic thermodynamic process: Q = W ⇒ U=0

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IF A BODY DOING NO WORK Δ W =0 AND AT A CONSTANT
TEMPERATURE CONTINUES TO LOSE HEAT TO
SURROUNDINGS THEN
ΔQ IS –IVE AND
ΔU IS ALSO –IVE
WHICH MEANS
decrease in stored energy .

IF THE CHANGE OF ΔU, ΔQ, AND ΔW TAKEN IN A SHORT

INTERVAL OF TIME T, THE FIRST LAW OF
THERMODYNAMICS
THEN BECOME:
𝜟𝑼 𝜟𝑸 𝜟𝑾
= =
𝜟𝒕 𝜟𝒕 𝜟𝒕
WHERE :
𝜟𝑼
IS THE RATE OF CHANGE OF STORED ENERGY.
𝜟𝒕

𝜟𝑸
IS THE RATE OF HEAT OF LOSS OR GAIN .
𝜟𝒕

𝜟𝑾
IS THE RATE OF DOING WORK.
𝜟𝒕

WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT THE FOOD ENERGY IS THE

BODY SOURCE OF ENERGY WHICH CAN BE TRANSFORMED
TO HEAT, CHEMICAL OR MECHANICAL ENERGY .

ENERGY CHANGES IN THE BODY, ENERGY UNITS

The energy value of food referred to by nutrition as a Calorie is actually a
kilocalorie; thus a diet of 2500 C/day is 2500 Kcal/day. Energy unit is joule
or erg. Power is given in joule per second or watts (W).

A convenient unit for expressing the rate of energy consumption of the

body met.
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THE MET
2
is defined as 50 Kcal /m of body surface area per hour, or it means the
rate of energy consumption of the body .

IN GENERAL WE CAN USE KILOCALORIES OR

JOULES FOR ENERGY UNITS AND KILOCALORIES
PER SECOND, MINUTE, OR HOUR, WATTS FOR
POWER.
FOR MORE DETAILS :
1 CAL = 4.184 J
1 KCAL = 4184 J
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1 J = 10 ERGS
1 met = 50 Kcal/m² .hr

Heat is released as energy of metabolism in the oxidation process

within the body (the rate of oxidation is called the metabolic rate ) .

Oxygen Consumption:-

Food is oxidized; in oxidation by combustion heat is released. In the

oxidation process within the body released as energy of metabolism.
The rate oxidation is called the metabolic rate.

The oxidation equation for 1 mole of glucose (C H O – a common

6 12 6

form of sugar ) is a good example .

C H O + 6O ----- 6H O + 6CO + 686KCAL

6 12 6 2 2 2

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 One mole of glucose (180g) reacts with 6 mole of O2 (192 g) to give
6 moles each of H2O (180g), CO2 (264g) and 686 Kcal of heat
energy .

At (N.T.P),

1 mole of a gas has a volume of 22.4 litters .

From the last equation we can calculated the following :

=Kcal of energy released /g of fuel (glucose) = 686/180 = 3.8

Kcal of energy released /Liter of O2 used= 686/ (22.4 *6) = 5.1

Liters of O2 used / gram of fuel (glucose ) = 22.4 *6 /180 = 0.75

Liters of CO2 produced /gram of fuel = 22.4 *6 /180 = 0.75

Ratio of moles of CO2 produced to moles of CO2 used called

The respiratory quotient (R) = 1 .

This table for energy relationships for some foods.

Food or fuel Energy released per Caloric value (Kcal/g)

Liter of O2 (Kcal/liter)

Carbohydrates 5.3 4.1

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 Proteins 4.3 4.1

Fats 4.7 9.3

Typical diet 4.8-5.0 ---

In the case that the body is completed at rest, the typical person
consumes energy at a rate of about 92 Kcal /hr = 107 W, and it will
have the lowest rate of energy consumption, which called the basal
metabolic rate (BMR) .

BMR : Is the amount of energy needed to perform minimal body

function such as (breathing and pumping the blood through the
arteries )under resting conditions .

The BMR is a function of mass, height, and gender

Sometimes BMR :Is determined from the oxygen consumption

when resting, and also estimate the food energy used in various
physical activities by measuring the oxygen consumption .

Work and Energy:

Chemical energy stored in the body is converted into external
mechanical work as well as into life preserving functions.
The Internal work: is the force (F) moved through a distance Δx

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ΔW is usually defined as force moved through a distance ΔX
ΔW = F ΔX
The force F and the motion ΔX must be in the same direction.

Power

Power ,P, is the rate of doing work is the .

Power = ΔW / Δt
Power = F ΔX / Δt =FƲ
… Power = F Ʋ
Ʋ is the velocity , Power is work per unit time .

In general external work is done when a person is climbing a hill or

walking up stairs .

The work done can be calculated by multiplying the person's weight

(mg) by the vertical distance (h) moved .

W=mgh

F = m g = weight

. We can also measure the oxygen consumed during any activity: The
total food consumed can be calculated since 4.8 kcal are produced for
each 1 liter of oxygen consumed

If one consider the human body as a machine it's efficiency can be

obtained from the formula

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 C = work done / energy consumed

Thank you
Falih. A. Aziz

Assiss/prof. Medical Physics

College of Pharmacy

Falih.abid@mail.ru