GEOPHYSICS AND MEDICAL PHYSICS VOLCANO: The interior of the earth is at a high temperature of about 50000C.

At this temperature the rock and minerals will be in molten form and they are called Lava. Due to the high temperature, pressure builds up and when the pressure is large enough, the molten lava erupts through the volcano. Thus volcano serves as opening of safety valve as in a pressure cooker. After volcano, the pressure inside the earth decrease and this causes change in interior structure EARTH QUAKE The surface of the earth is made up of layers of rocks called tectonic plates. Due to change in the interior structure of the earth, the plates start moving. This is due to change in pressure and temperature. When a plate moves, the earth above it slides vertically down. This causes the seismic waves on the surface of the earth. The amplitude of the wave is measured using an instrument called seismograph. Thus seismograph measures the intensity of earth quake. Unit of Earth quake: The intensity of earth quake is measured in Ritcherscale.This unit is defined as R= log10(A) Where A is the amplitude of vertical vibration in micrometer. If A=1 micro meter, R= 0 This 1 m vibration can be due to motion of a lorry or a train. If A =1 m = 106 m, R = 6 Thus R=0 is generally allowed R=6 can be disastrous. During tsunami (Dec 2004), R=9.this includes A= 1km. (Tsunami Tidal waves)

The sea bed was lifted by 1km upward which caused Tidal waves. Tsunami can be caused by three reasons 1. When meteors fall into the sea 2. When volcano eruption occurs under the sea 3. When Earthquake occurs at seabed. RAINFALL UNIT Rainfall is measured as volume of water collected per unit area.

Obj101 Obj100

Unit of Rainfall == height.

Obj103 Obj102

Consider a vessel of mouth area a, exposed to rainfall. If V is the volume of water collected, then Amount of Rainfall =V/A in cm PROBLEM: A mug of mouth area 100cm2 is exposed to rainfall. If collected one liter of rain water during a rainfall, calculate the amount of rainfall in that region Rainfall = V/A = 1000/100 = 10cm LIGHTNING ARRESTOR The charge density in a metal is proportional to its curvature. Sharp points are more curved and therefore at sharp points, charge density is minimum i.e. sharp points can accommodate more charges. Lightning is caused when a positively charged cloud collides with a negatively charged cloud. This causes lightning and thunder. To avoid lightning affecting our buildings, we use lightning arrestor, which is metal rod with sharp ends facing the sky. Lightning arrestor is placed at

the top of a tall building. This attracts the charged clouds and the charges are grounded in the earth using thick conducting wire, like copper.

Lightning arrestors provide safety for the building and also for the neighboring area. When there is no lightning arrestor as in a village, the tallest tree will attract the charges from the clouds. For this reason one should avoid standing under a tree during lightning. COSMIC SHOWERS: Cosmic means outer space. Cosmic rays are those emerging from the outer space. The electromagnetic radiation from the outer space interacts with the atmosphere of the earth and charged particles are produced. These particles enter the earth as showers, which are called cosmic shower.

The cosmic shower approaches earth from all directions. The cosmic shower enters the North Pole (N) and South Pole (s) of the Earth. Near the Equator the charged particles cannot enter as they will be deflected in circular path (see fig)

The deflection of charged particles is due to earths magnetic field. This region is called Van Allen belt. This belt provides protection for animals and plant life. In the north and south poles, there is no such protection and so animals and plants are scarce in Polar Regions. COLIDGE TUBE; Coolidge tube is an apparatus for producing X-rays. PRINCIPLE: When fast moving electrons hit a metal target-rays are liberated. APPARATUS:

The figure shows a Coolidge tube. The filament emits electrons and they are accelerated towards the positive potential. When the electrons hit the metal target-rays are generated. The wave length of X-ray is about 1 AU (one angstrom unit) (1 AU=10 -10 m) the wavelength depends on the applied high voltage. When the voltage is low, we get soft x-rays. When the voltage is high, we get Hard X-rays. The hard X-ray is used for scientific purpose and industrial applications. The soft X-rays for medical applications. PROPERTIES OF X-RAYS: 1. It has velocity of light (3 x 108m/s)

2. It can penetrate human body. The extent of penetration is more for flesh and less for bones. 3. It can affect photographic plates.