Biofísica e Biomecânica

António Lobo
alobo@ufp.edu.pt

Biophysics & Biomechanics

Recommendation:
[based on Confucius (551-479 BC) philosophical ideas]

If you hear, you will forget.

If you see and write, you will remember.
If you do, you will understand.

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 Mathematical Basis

Units of Measurement - S.I. (Sistème International)

Length meter m
Base
Mass kilogram kg
SI units
Time second s
Electric current ampère A
Temperature kelvin K
Luminous intensity candela cd
Amount of substance mole mol
Plane angle radian rad

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Mathematical Basis

§ Standard Unit Prefixes

§ Prefixes correspond to power of 10
§ Each prefix has a specific name (prefix) and symbol.

Factor Prefix Symbol

1012 tera T
109 giga G Examples:
106 mega M • Medium radius of Earth: ~ 6 Mm
103 kilo k • Cellular membrane thickness: 6 a 10 µm
10-2 centi c • Action potential on cardiac muscle: ~275 ms
10-3 mili m • Atom diameter is about 0.1 nm = 0.1×10-9 m.
10-6 micro m • Proton diameter: ~ 1 fm
10-9 nano n
10-12 pico p
10-15 femto f
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 Mathematical Basis

§ Dimensional Analysis
§ Dimension → is used to refer to the physical nature of a
quantity and the type of unit used to specify it.
§ Technique used to verify if an equation is correct.
§ Dimensions (length, mass, time, etc.) can be treated as
algebraic quantities (meaning)
§ Addition, subtraction, multiplication and division
§ Addition/Subtraction of quantities only if they have the same
dimension.
§ Both sides of an equation must have the same dimensions.

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Mathematical Basis

§ Dimensional Analysis (S.I.)

[L] = length [M] = mass [T] = time

Is the following equation dimensionally correct?

x = 12 vt 2

[L] = ⎡⎢ L ⎤⎥[T]2 = [L][T]

⎣T ⎦
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 Mathematical Basis

§ Dimensional Analysis (S.I.)

[L] = length [M] = mass [T] = time

Is the following equation dimensionally correct?

x = vt

[L] = ⎡⎢ L ⎤⎥[T] = [L]

⎣T ⎦
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Mathematical Basis

§ Coordinate System
§ Cartesian Coordinate System (x,y) – 2 Dimensions

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 Mathematical Basis

§ Coordinate System
§ Polar Coordinate System (r,θ) – 2 Dimensions

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Mathematical Basis

§ Reference Frame
§ Absolute versus Relative reference frame

Absolute Reference Frame Relative Reference Frame

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 Mathematical Basis

Pythagorean Theorem
§ Trigonometry (revision)

opposite side lo
h2 = la2 + lo2
sin θ = =
hypotenuse h
adjacent side la
cosθ = =
hypotenuse h
opposite side lo
tan θ = = lo
adjacent side la

la

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Mathematical Basis

§ Trigonometry (revision)
When the triangule does not have 90º angle?

Law of Cosines Law of Sines

sin α sin β sin γ
a 2 = b 2 + c 2 − 2bc cos α = =
a b c
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 Mathematical Basis

§ Calculus (revision): Derivative

ΔE E2 − E1
slope = =
ΔT T2 − T1

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Mathematical Basis

§ Calculus (revision): Derivative

ΔE
derivative = lim
ΔT →0 ΔT

dE
derivative =
dT

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 Mathematical Basis

§ Calculus : Integral
Area () = ( E1 − 0) × (T2 − T1 ) = E1 × ΔT

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Mathematical Basis

§ Calculus: Integral
n
Area ≈ lim
ΔT → 0
∑ ( E ⋅ ΔT )
i =1
i i

T2

Area = ∫ E (T ) ⋅ dT
T1

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 Mathematical Basis

§ Calculus (revision): Integral

Fundamental Theorem of Calculus

a

∫ f (x) dx = F(a) − F(b)

a

Anti-derivative of f(x)

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Mathematical Basis

§ Calculus (revision): Derivative versus Integral

§ Example:
f (x) = x 2

Derivative Integral
d d x3
dx
f (x) = (x 2 ) = 2x
dx ∫ ∫
f (x)dx = (x 2 )dx =
3

Checking results
2 d ⎛ x 3 ⎞ 3x 2
2x = = x2
∫ (2x)dx =
2
= x2 dx ⎜⎝ 3 ⎟⎠ 3
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 Mathematical Basis

§ Tools for Calculus ?

§ Good pocket calculator with CAS (Computer Algebra
System) and Graphing capability
§ Software Apps
§ Mathematica, Maple, MathCAD, FreeMat, etc...
§ WolfraAlpha (iPad)
§ PocketCAS
§ Online tools:
§ Wolfram|Alpha: www.wolframalpha.com
§ Mathics: www.mathics.org
§ SAGE: www.sagemath.org

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Mathematical Basis

§ The use of pocket calculators.

§ Pay attention to the operation mode of the angles measure!
§ Deg (degrees) or Rad (radians)?
§ Example of an error of this type:

cos 30 = 0.86603... (in degrees)

cos 30 = 0.15425... (in radians)

§ Know how to input scientific notation in your calculator!

§ Example (depending on the calculator):
1.53 × 10 −3
1.53∗10 ^ −3
Read your pocket calculator manual !! 1.53Ε − 3

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