Essential Physics, Chemistry and Biology

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-v

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2. Physics, chemistry, and biology. Introduction

   1. Physics, chemistry, and biology. Introduction

      • D. F. Horrobin

      Pages 1-2

3. Biology

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 3-3

      PDF

   2. The cell and its requirements

      • D. F. Horrobin

      Pages 5-13

   3. The functioning of larger animals

      • D. F. Horrobin

      Pages 14-23

4. Chemistry

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 25-25

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   2. The structure of chemical substances

      • D. F. Horrobin

      Pages 27-42

   3. Isotopes and radioactivity

      • D. F. Horrobin

      Pages 43-48

   4. Solutions

      • D. F. Horrobin

      Pages 49-56

   5. The importance of osmotic pressure

      • D. F. Horrobin

      Pages 57-65

   6. Acids, bases and buffers

      • D. F. Horrobin

      Pages 66-73

5. Physics

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 75-75

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   2. Heat

      • D. F. Horrobin

      Pages 77-85

   3. Liquids

      • D. F. Horrobin

      Pages 86-96

   4. Gases

      • D. F. Horrobin

      Pages 97-108

   5. Electricity

      • D. F. Horrobin

      Pages 109-117

   6. Units, decimals and graphs

      • D. F. Horrobin

      Pages 118-119

6. Back Matter

   Pages 121-125

   PDF

of these subjects and should be kept constantly at hand so that it can readily be consulted when difficult topics arise. I hope that it may succeed in reducing the fear with which many nurses face the sciences with which the book deals. Section 1 BIOLOGY 2 The cell and its requirements The world of living things is conveniently and conven­ tionally divided into two great groups, the animals and the plants. Broadly speaking the important feature which distinguishes plants is that they can manufacture most of the substances they require by trapping and using various forms of outside energy, in particular the energy of sunlight. In the process of photosynthesis they utilize the energy of light to build up complex chemical substances from relatively simple ones. In contrast, animals lack the ability to use light or any other form of outside energy. Instead they must obtain the energy they require by breaking down complex substances which ultimately they always obtain from plants. Plant-eating animals such as cows and sheep obtain these substances directly. Carnivores obtain them indirectly after they have passed through the bodies of other animals.

• electricity
• energy
• heat
• photosynthesis
• physics
• units

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