Thermodynamics and Transport

The course starts with covering the various aspects of phenomenological Thermodynamics, as applicable to various biological systems. We cover this in a unique way where we do start from the microscopic perspective of Thermodynamics then transitioning into and staying at the macroscopic phenomena.

Thermodynamics:

• First law of thermodynamics; Equation of States; Changing States

• Entropy and second law of thermodynamics; Reversible process and work/heat;

• Entropy, Enthalpy and Gibbs Free Energy; Chemical potential

This course then subsequently deals with transport of mass (or moles), and energy - the basic quantities in classical physics - at the level of cell. Most processes involve transport- or transfer in general - of these quantities. Mass, fluid and heat transport processes are fundamental to virtually all aspect of life. For example, living systems need energy to survive. Moreover, they need new material, in the form of specific molecules to grow and reproduce or get their energy from.

Transport phenomena:

• Microscopic theory of Diffusion; Brownian motion; Random Walks

• Macroscopic description of diffusion; Fick's equation; Diffusion through pores

• Mass transport across a thin film; Reaction-Diffusion system;

• Life at low Reynolds number; Diffusion with drift; Stokes flow; Flow through a channel; Sedimentation flow