Session:
|
Physics in a Biological Context II
|
Paper Type:
|
Contributed
|
Title:
|
Two Examples on How to Make AC Circuits Relevant to Pre-health and Life Science Students
|
Meeting:
|
2014 Summer Meeting: Minneapolis, Minnesota |
Location:
|
N/A |
Date:
|
|
Time:
|
1:50PM
|
Author:
|
Ralf Widenhorn, Portland State University
5037253898, ralfw@pdx.edu
|
Co-Author(s):
|
Elliot Mylott, Justin Dunlap, Ellynne Kutschera
|
Abstract:
|
AC circuits are included in all standard introductory general physics textbooks. However, while engineers taking this course may easily see the relevance to their field, life science and pre-health students often struggle to see how AC circuits are relevant to their future study. We will present two lab activities that teach AC circuits in a biomedically relevant context. A circuit lab on the electrocardiogram (EKG) shows how an EKG sensor acts as a band pass filter and removes high and low frequency signals. Students then observe how a RLC circuit can be used to build a simple band pass filter. A second lab on biomedical impedance analysis (BIA) explores the concepts of AC currents, AC voltages, phase shifts, phasor diagrams, and impedance measurements. In this lab students can calculate a person's body composition using measurements of impedance and phase angle from a small current injected into the human body. They can compare these results to measurements of RC circuits that model the resistive and capacitive characteristics of the human body.
|
Footnotes:
|
None
|
Presentation:
|
Widenhorn-EKG_BIA_AAPTMeeting07_28_2014.pdf
|
|