Physics of the Life Sciences draft textbook (McKay)¶

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Evidence · no claims cited

Description¶

A draft calculus-based textbook by Prof. Timothy McKay used as the core of the reformed course. It takes "a novel approach to teaching physics to life science majors, by explicitly focusing on how physical principles dictate the shape, size, and structure of organisms," emphasizing physical scaling laws such as mass versus surface area. It spends substantially more time on thermodynamics, statistical mechanics, and fluid statics and dynamics, and less on kinematics and dynamics, than standard introductory texts.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• Supplementation with additional practice problems was needed until a published version with example and supplemental homework problems became available

Constraints¶

• Students reported confusing explanations of some phenomena and a lack of practice problems beyond assigned homework

Target Learners¶

• undergraduate life science majors in a calculus-based introductory physics course

Target Learning Goals¶

• connecting fundamental physical principles to the form and function of organisms
• applying physical scaling laws to living systems

Claims¶

Related Elements¶

Examples¶

• Iterative improvements and interdisciplinary integration for the next course iteration

Key Sources¶

• O'Shea, B., Terry, L., & Benenson, W. (2013). From F=ma to Flying Squirrels: Curricular Change in an Introductory Physics Course. CBE-Life Science Education (accepted). https://www.lifescied.org