Biology Unit 1
Biology Unit 1
UNIT-1
Introduction:
Bring out the fundamental differences between science and
engineering by drawing a comparison between eye and camera,
Bird flying and aircraft. Mention the most exciting aspect of
biology as an independent scientific discipline. Why we need to
study biology? Discuss how biological observations of 18th
Century that lead to major discoveries. Examples from
Brownian motion and the origin of thermodynamics by
referring to the original observation of Robert Brown and
Julius Mayor. These examples will highlight the fundamental
importance of observations in any scientific inquiry.
Fundamental differences between
Science and Engineering
Science and engineering are closely related fields, but they have
some fundamental differences in their objectives, methodologies,
and outcomes.
Objectives:
Science:
The primary objective of science is to understand the natural world and uncover
knowledge about how things work. Scientists seek to explain phenomena,
discover new principles, and expand the existing body of knowledge.
Engineering:
The primary objective of engineering is to apply scientific knowledge and
principles to design and create practical solutions for real-world problems.
Engineers focus on building and improving systems, structures, processes, and
technologies to meet specific needs.
Fundamental differences between
Science and Engineering
Approach:
Science:
Scientists typically follow the scientific method, which involves making
observations, formulating hypotheses, conducting experiments or
gathering data, analyzing the results, and drawing conclusions. The
emphasis is on experimentation, data collection, and validation of
hypotheses.
Engineering:
Engineers use scientific principles and knowledge as a foundation, but they
employ a problem-solving approach. They apply their expertise to design,
develop, and implement solutions. Engineers consider factors such as
feasibility, functionality, cost, safety, and efficiency in their designs.
Fundamental differences between
Science and Engineering
Knowledge Generation:
Science:
Scientists generate new knowledge through research and
experimentation. They aim to expand the understanding of the
natural world, uncovering new theories, principles, and laws.
Engineering:
Engineers apply existing scientific knowledge to create practical
solutions. They use established principles and methodologies to
design and build technologies, systems, and structures that solve
specific problems.
Fundamental differences between
Science and Engineering
Outcome:
Science: The primary outcome of scientific research is
knowledge advancement and understanding. Scientific findings
are published in journals, shared with the scientific community,
and contribute to the collective knowledge of humanity.
Engineering: The primary outcome of engineering is the
creation of practical solutions. Engineers develop products,
systems, and structures that address specific needs and provide
tangible benefits to society. The results of engineering are often
manifested in the form of buildings, bridges, software, devices,
and other technological advancements.
Fundamental differences between
Science and Engineering
Examples:
Scientific Findings: Scientists discover a new material with high
strength and heat resistance properties.
Engineers' Use: Engineers leverage this scientific finding to design and
develop advanced aerospace components, such as turbine blades for jet
engines, that can withstand extreme temperatures and stress.
Scientific Findings: Researchers uncover a new drug compound that
effectively targets cancer cells.
Engineers' Use: Engineers utilize this scientific breakthrough to design
medical devices, such as targeted drug delivery systems or diagnostic tools,
that enhance the precision and effectiveness of cancer treatments.
Fundamental differences between
Science and Engineering
Image Formation:
Eye: The eye forms images through a process called refraction. The
cornea and lens refract light to focus it onto the retina, which contains
specialized cells called rods and cones. Rods are responsible for low-light
vision, while cones enable color vision and high acuity. The retina
captures the light pattern and sends electrical signals to the brain, which
interprets them as visual information.
Camera: A camera lens refracts light to focus it onto the image sensor.
The image sensor, made up of millions of pixels, measures the intensity of
light hitting each pixel. These measurements are then converted into
digital values that represent the colors and brightness levels of the
captured scene.
Comparison between Eye and Camera
Adaptability:
Eye: The human eye is highly adaptable and can adjust its
focus to see objects at different distances through a process
called accommodation. The iris also controls the amount of
light entering the eye by adjusting the size of the pupil.
Camera: Cameras can have adjustable focus settings to
capture objects at different distances, but the process is manual
or controlled electronically. Cameras also have mechanisms to
control exposure settings, such as aperture, shutter speed, and
ISO sensitivity, to adapt to different lighting conditions.
Comparison between Eye and Camera
Image Processing:
Eye: The human brain processes the electrical signals received
from the retina to form a coherent visual perception. The brain
combines the inputs from both eyes to create a three-dimensional
perception of the world, allowing depth perception and the ability
to perceive motion.
Camera: Cameras can apply various image processing techniques
to enhance or alter the captured images. This can include adjusting
contrast, saturation, sharpness, and applying filters. Additionally,
cameras can capture and record video, enabling the reproduction
of motion.
Comparison between Eye and Camera
Limitations:
Eye: The human eye has certain limitations. It is susceptible to visual
imperfections like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism
(blurry or distorted vision). The eye's sensitivity to light can vary, leading
to difficulties in low-light or high-glare conditions. Additionally, the eye
has a limited dynamic range, making it challenging to perceive details in
both very bright and very dark areas simultaneously.
https://youtu.be/Wi6MLZFcv4w?si=jAJk8_xED0dTXhNF
Comparison between
Bird flying and aircraft
Aerodynamics: Both birds and aircraft rely on the
principles of aerodynamics to generate lift and maintain flight.
Birds generate lift by creating a pressure difference between
the upper and lower surfaces of their wings, while aircraft
wings are shaped to create lift by manipulating airflow.
Wing Design: Birds have flexible wings with varying shapes
depending on the species and flight style. They can change the
shape of their wings during flight to optimize lift and
maneuverability. Aircraft wings are typically rigid and have a
fixed shape that is carefully designed for optimal lift and
stability.
Comparison between
Bird flying and aircraft
In the 18th century, several biological observations made by scientists led to major
discoveries and advancements in various fields of science. Two notable examples are
Brownian motion and the origin of thermodynamics, which were based on the original
observations of Robert Brown and Julius von Mayer, respectively.
Brownian Motion (Robert Brown, 1827): Robert Brown, a Scottish botanist, observed an
intriguing phenomenon while studying plant pollen suspended in water under a microscope.
He noticed that the pollen grains exhibited erratic, random movements, which became
known as Brownian motion. Brown initially thought these movements were due to some
intrinsic property of the pollen, but later experiments showed that the motion was a result of
collisions with molecules in the surrounding fluid.
Significance: Brownian motion had significant implications for the understanding of
molecular behavior and the nature of matter. It provided empirical evidence for the existence
of atoms and molecules, which were at the center of scientific debate at the time. The
observations made by Brown laid the foundation for the development of kinetic theory and
statistical mechanics, contributing to our understanding of the microscopic world and the
behavior of particles.
Biological observations of 18th Century
leading to major discoveries
Origin of Thermodynamics (Julius von Mayer, 1842): Julius von Mayer, a German physician and physicist,
made important observations regarding the conservation of energy while studying the mechanical work done
by the heart. He noticed that despite variations in blood pressure and flow rates, the total amount of heat
Significance: Mayer's observations led to the formulation of the principle of the conservation of energy, which
is a fundamental concept in thermodynamics. His work laid the groundwork for the first law of
thermodynamics, which states that energy cannot be created or destroyed but can only be converted from one
form to another. Mayer's insights into the origin of thermodynamics contributed to the development of this
branch of physics, which has widespread applications in various scientific and engineering disciplines.
Biological observations of 18th Century
leading to major discoveries
The erratic random movement of microscopic particles in a fluid, as a result of continuous repulsion
from the molecules of the surrounding medium.
Q. 3 What basic principle of flying is used by birds ? (December-2022) 1.5 Marks
Birds fly by using air pressure's pushing force to create wing lift. This is achieved by the physi- cal law
known as the Bernoulli Principle. Daniel Bernoulli, an 18th century mathematician, discovered that as
air speed increases, air pressure lowers. Bird wings are specially designed air foils.
Q-4 Give Difference between (December-2022) 10 Marks
(a)Flying a bird and Aeroplane
• Birds have flexible wings with varying shapes • Aircraft wings are typically rigid and have a fixed
depending on the species and flight style. They can shape that is carefully designed for optimal lift and
change the shape of their wings during flight to stability.
optimize lift and maneuverability.
• Birds generate thrust and propulsion by flapping their • Aircraft use engines, such as jet engines or propellers,
wings, utilizing their muscle power. which generate thrust to propel the aircraft forward.
• Birds are highly energy-efficient fliers. They have • Aircraft, while efficient in terms of fuel consumption
evolved to minimize energy consumption during compared to their weight, are less energy-efficient
flight, employing techniques like gliding and using than birds due to mechanical and propulsion
updrafts. constraints.
Q-4 Give Difference between (December-2022) 10 Marks
(a)Flying a bird and Aeroplane
• Birds typically fly at lower altitudes, with some • Aircraft, on the other hand, are designed to fly at
exceptions such as migratory birds that can reach high higher altitudes and achieve greater speeds.
altitudes. The speed of bird flight varies greatly Commercial airliners typically cruise at altitudes
depending on the species, ranging from a few miles above 30,000 feet and can reach speeds of several
per hour to over a hundred miles per hour. hundred miles per hour.
• Birds have a minimal environmental impact during • Aircraft, however, have a larger environmental impact
flight. They produce no emissions and have a due to their fuel consumption and emissions, as well
negligible noise footprint. as noise pollution near airports.
(b) Camera and Eye
Camera Eye
Eye: The eye is a complex organ that captures and Camera: A camera consists of a lens that focuses light
focuses light onto the retina, which contains light- onto an image sensor. The image sensor, typically a
sensitive cells called photoreceptors. These digital sensor in modern cameras, captures the light and
photoreceptors convert light into electrical signals that converts it into an electronic signal.
are transmitted to the brain via the optic nerve.
The eye has components such as the cornea, iris, lens, The camera's electronics process the signal, which can
and retina that work together to form images and be stored as a digital image or displayed in real-time on
provide visual information. a screen.
Eye: The eye forms images through a process called Camera: A camera lens refracts light to focus it onto
refraction. The cornea and lens refract light to focus it the image sensor. The image sensor, made up of
(b) Camera and Eye
Camera Eye
Adaptability: Adaptability:
Eye: The human eye is highly adaptable and can adjust Camera: Cameras can have adjustable focus settings to
its focus to see objects at different distances through a capture objects at different distances, but the process is
process called accommodation. The iris also controls manual or controlled electronically. Cameras also have
the amount of light entering the eye by adjusting the mechanisms to control exposure settings, such as
size of the pupil. aperture, shutter speed, and ISO sensitivity, to adapt to
different lighting conditions.
Camera Eye
Limitations: Limitations:
Eye: The human eye has certain limitations. It is Camera: Cameras also have limitations. They
susceptible to visual imperfections like have a fixed resolution determined by the number
nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism of pixels on the image sensor, which affects the
(blurry or distorted vision). The eye's sensitivity level of detail captured. Cameras may struggle in
to light can vary, leading to difficulties in low- low-light conditions unless equipped with sensors
light or high-glare conditions. Additionally, the and lenses optimized for low-light photography.
eye has a limited dynamic range, making it Additionally, cameras may not replicate the
challenging to perceive details in both very bright dynamic range of the human eye, leading to loss
and very dark areas simultaneously. of detail in high-contrast scenes.
Q-5 Explain different laws of Thermodynamics (December-2022) 5 Marks
The Second Law of Thermodynamics states that the state of entropy of the entire universe, as an
isolated system, will always increase over time. The second law also states that the changes in the
entropy in the universe can never be negative.
Science: Engineering:
Scientists typically follow the scientific method, which Engineers use scientific principles and knowledge as a
involves making observations, formulating hypotheses, foundation, but they employ a problem-solving
conducting experiments or gathering data, analyzing approach. They apply their expertise to design,
the results, and drawing conclusions. The emphasis is develop, and implement solutions. Engineers consider
on experimentation, data collection, and validation of factors such as feasibility, functionality, cost, safety,
hypotheses. and efficiency in their designs.
Flying a Bird 1. Aeroplane
• Birds generate lift by creating a pressure difference • Aircraft wings are shaped to create lift by
between the upper and lower surfaces of their wings. manipulating airflow.
Here the Scientist observed that the birds lift The same principle has been followed to make
themselves by creating pressure difference. the aircraft fly.
• Birds generate thrust and propulsion by flapping their • Aircraft use engines, such as jet engines or propellers,
wings, utilizing their muscle power. which generate thrust to propel the aircraft forward.
Here the muscle power is in use. Engineers developed engines to generate
power following their understanding that
power is needed.
• Birds are highly energy-efficient fliers. They have • Aircraft, while efficient in terms of fuel consumption
evolved to minimize energy consumption during compared to their weight, are less energy-efficient
flight, employing techniques like gliding and using than birds due to mechanical and propulsion
updrafts. constraints.
Flying a Bird 1. Aeroplane
• Birds have sophisticated flight control systems that • Aircraft have advanced control systems that utilize a
allow them to adjust their wing positions, tail combination of control surfaces, such as ailerons,
movements, and body posture to maintain stability elevators, and rudders, to maneuver and maintain
and control during flight. stability in flight.
The scientific observation lead to the aircraft
design like ailerons, elevators and rudders etc.