Electricity and Magnetism in Biological Systems

Our understanding of biological functions is rapidly approaching the molecular level. On this scale the only significant forces are electromagnetic, so that ultimately all living processes must be understood in terms of electromagnetic fields and forces. The first part of this unique new text deals with the theory of electromagnetism using a descriptive and geometrical approach suited to students of biology, chemistry, and biochemistry, and including biologically relevant examples where possible. The second part contains biological topics, which can serve as applications of the theory for students of chemistry or biology, or as an introduction to biology for students trained in the physical sciences who wish to migrate to biology. Topics include the properties of water and ions in bulk solution and in narrow pores, the Debye Layer, possible mechanisms for a magnetic animal compass, an electrostatic model of a proton/ion counterport, and the semi-classical theory of nuclear magnetic resonance.

ISBN 0198506791   DEWEY edition DC21 ISBN13 9780198506799 (What's this?)   Pages 298 Publisher Oxford University Press   Volumes 1 Imprint Oxford University Press   Weight (grammes) 482 Format Paperback   Published in Oxford Publication date 03 May 2001   Height (mm) 240 Non-book description xii, 286 p. :   Width (mm) 168 Library of Congress 2001016282   Spine width (mm) 15 DEWEY 571.47   Academic level Tertiary education

Pt. I		The basic theory
1		Electrostatic fields and voltage
2		How conductors shape an electric field
3		Ionic conductors
4		Properties of the electric dipole and Gauss's Law when dielectrics are present
5		The calculation of electric fields and voltages in the presence of dielectrics
6		Static magnetic fields
7		The generation of magnetic fields
8		Magnetic polarization of material
9		Induced electric and magnetic fields
10		The motion of a charged particle in electric and magnetic fields
Pt. II		Applications
11		Ions in aqueous solution and the ionization of acids and bases
12		The Debye Layer
13		The behaviour of ions in narrow pores
14		Possible mechanisms for a magnetic animal compass
15		An electrostatic model of a proton/ion or an ion/ion coport or counterport
16		An introduction to the classical theory of pulsed nuclear magnetic resonance
		App. 1: Mathematics
App. 2		The Boltzmann Distribution
App. 3		An introduction to thermodynamics and the chemical potential
		App. 4: Hints for the solutions and numerical answers to the problems

"The book conveniently sets out the basic information that forms the back-ground to the physical approach to parts of biology. It would be useful to research workers with biological backgrounds who find they need to understand electrical phenomena at the physical level." Times Higher Education Supplement

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