How physical principles apply to living things. Some examples of the kinds of topics to be discussed are muscle action, running, jumping, flying, circulation of blood, keeping warm, keeping cool, nerve action, hearing, and seeing. Meets the Critical Perspectives: Scientific Investigation of the Natural World requirement. Meets the Critical Perspectives: Quantitative Reasoning requirement. Meets the Critical Learning: FRL requirement. Meets the Critical Learning: SA requirement. (Not offered 2025-26).

Degree requirement — Critical Learning: FRL, Critical Learning: SA, Critical Perspectives: I, Critical Perspectives: Q

1 unit

Previously Featured Offering

Biophysics: Physics and Living Things

Nov. 2017
Instructor: Kristine Lang

Biophysics: Physics and Living Things applies physics equations and methods to understand biological systems.

Biophysics: Physics and Living Things studies an eclectic mix of biological systems…human athletic performance, warming of the earth, protein folding, and the circulatory system. You might expect that a scientific study of biological systems would strip them of their mystery, but I think you will find that exactly the opposite happens. When you have a solid understanding of how life works you will have a deeper appreciation of how miraculous life is. My hope is that by the end of the course when you take a jog, feel your heart pumping, or consider the red blood cells that make all that go you will feel amazement that it is all so complex, and yet works so beautifully together to make life.

No offerings are currently scheduled.