Integrating Evolutionary Biology into Physics Classroom: Scaling, Dimension, Form and Function

Kausik S Das; Larry Gonick; Salem Al Mosleh

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arXiv · 2408.04070

Integrating Evolutionary Biology into Physics Classroom: Scaling, Dimension, Form and Function

Kausik S Das·Larry Gonick·Salem Al Mosleh

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Abstract

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 discplines such as biophysics -- are rarely tought in introductory physics courses. Here we examine how the laws of physics shape Darwinism 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.

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Kausik S Das, Larry Gonick, Salem Al Mosleh. 2024-08-07. Integrating Evolutionary Biology into Physics Classroom: Scaling, Dimension, Form and Function. https://arxiv.org/abs/2408.04070

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