Mechanics, Heat, and the Human Body: An Introduction to Physics.

Mechanics, Heat, and the Human Body: An Introduction to Physics Goldick HD. Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458, Prentice Hall Health Inc, 2001, paperback, 224 pp, illus, ISBN: 0-13-922816-0, $32.

The goal of this book is to provide an introduction to physics for students who are primarily interested in the human body; however, it is not intended to be a textbook for a broad survey course in physics. Instead, the text intentionally covers a limited number of physics topics that are related to the human body (ie, motion, force, energy, heat). The book does not cover other topics (eg, light and electricity) that may be important for students who require a broader understanding of the field. In order to help readers understand how the principles of physics relate to the human experience, most of the examples and problem sets used in the book are specifically related to the human body.

The book is divided into 3 chapters: (1) "Linear Motion and Force," (2) "Angular Motion and Torque," and (3) "Heat and Energy." The author's presentation of the topics in the first 2 chapters is generally adequate; however, these topics needed to be explained in more detail in order to promote a deeper understanding of the basic principles. The use of specific examples in the human body, however, helps the reader to understand the application of physical principles, an opportunity not found in other introductory physics texts. For example, vector analysis is illustrated by problem sets that ask readers to determine the forces present at the lumbosacral junction of a person in an upright posture and to determine the various forces present around the knee during a contraction of the quadriceps muscle. The understanding of the vector analysis and its specific application is effectively enhanced by the use of figures in which the analyses were computed on a picture of the lumbosacral area and the knee.

The third chapter of the book deals with heat and various forms of energy (eg, elastic, chemical, thermal). The discussion of heat included exchanges with the environment and the effects of internal heat generation (eg, phase changes, metabolic rate changes). The author gives a very effective explanation of elastic energy and the various ways this form of energy is used in the body, providing examples from muscles, tendons, and bones. The section on chemical energy attempts to blend physics and exercise physiology. Depending on the background of the reader, this section could be difficult to understand because there is only a brief introduction to adenosine triphosphate (ATP), basal metabolic rate, and measuring rates of energy consumption.

Overall I enjoyed the book for what it was--an attempt to discuss a limited number of physical principles by applying those principles to the human experience. Although I believe that there are some weaknesses in the presentation of a few topics, I know of no other book that comes close to making physics more relevant to health care students.

Brad Stockert, PT, PhD
University of the Pacific
Stockton, Calif

Dr Stockert is Associate Professor in the School of Pharmacy, where he teaches in the professional physical therapy and pharmacy programs.