Speaker
Description
Since Galileo and (more recently) D’Arcy Thompson, it has been understood that physical processes and constraints influence biological structures and their resulting functions. However these cross-discpline connections — and their importance to growing scientific disciplines such as biophysics — are rarely taught in introductory physics courses. Here we examine how the laws of physics shape Darwinian evolution through the surface area to volume ratio, an important geometric measure of a structure. We develop conceptual cartoon clicker questions to enhance students’ understanding of these interdisciplinary concepts. By connecting abstract physical laws with biological (and technological) applications, our approach aims to help students appreciate the deep connections between physical and biological sciences, thereby enriching the learning experience in introductory physics courses.
