Undergraduate Courses BIOENG 1210

BIOENG 1210 - Biothermodynamics

Instructor: Patzer

Credits: 3

Term: Spring

Description: BioThermodynamics uses an interactive framework in the joint (student and instructor) exploration of thermodynamics as it applies on the biological cellular and systems level. At this most fundamental level, thermodynamics studies the flow of energy, interconversion of energy, maintenance of cellular function and information, and the processes necessary to sustain life itself.

Prerequisites: MATH 0250 ot 0290 (concurrently), BIOENG 1070

Recommended Text: R.L. Fournier, Basic Transport Phenomena in Biomedical Engineering, 2nd Ed, 2006.

Course Objectives: Upon completing the course, the student should be able to describe how the three laws of thermodynamics and entropy impact biological systems, and be able to apply fundamental thermodynamics principles to set up and solve problems in physiological systems.

Topics Covered: Topics include

• Units / Significant Figures
• Conservation of Mass / Mass Balances
• First Law of Thermodynamics (conservation of energy)
• Second Law of Thermodynamics (entropy)
• Third Law of Thermodynamics
• Thermodynamic Relations
• Applications to physiologic systems

Syllabus: Microsoft Word Format

Class/Laboratory Schedule: Class will meet twice a week for 75 minutes each day. Recitation meets once a week for 75 minutes.