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

TL;DR

This paper explores how integrating concepts from evolutionary biology and physics, specifically surface area to volume ratio, into introductory physics education can deepen students' understanding of interdisciplinary scientific principles.

Contribution

It introduces conceptual clicker questions linking physics laws with biological evolution, enhancing interdisciplinary learning in physics courses.

Findings

Students better understand physical-biological connections.

The approach improves engagement with interdisciplinary concepts.

Enhanced appreciation of physics' role in biological structures.

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.