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Resources and community for teaching physics for life sciences

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14 Contributions

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Member of

Living Physics Portal Team

NEXUS Physics

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Edward Redish

Physics Education Researcher

University of Maryland, College Park

Department of Physics

Pedagogical Methods Used

Peer Instruction / Think-Pair-Share, Collaborative problem-solving, Conceptually-oriented activities, Context-rich problems, Ranking tasks, Mathematically-focused activities, Experimentally-focused activities, Tutorials

Life Sciences Focus

Focus on mathematical modeling. Viscous and drag forces, Reynolds’ number; resistive fluid flow; Random motion, Fick’s laws, and the implication of thermal motion for cellular biology; Understanding binding energy and the source of energy in chemical reactions; Entropy, micro and macro-states, and free energy; Energy exchange among mechanical, thermal, and chemical energies; physics in cellular and biochemistry; Interactions of photons with matter and discrete molecular energy levels.

Education Research and Pedagogy Expertise

Cognitive modeling of student thinking, issues in interdisciplinary instruction. Epistemological resources and epistemic games. Use of mathematics in science.

Years teaching physics for life sciences

Describe the courses that you teach for life sciences students

Fundamentals of Physics for the Life Sciences I and II (NEXUS Physics): A two semester class for bio and life science majors. Intended to fit in the middle of their program and to interact with it. Biology, chemistry, and calculus, and it is designed to help with physical issues in upper division biology classes. There is an emphasis on molecular and cellular issues rather than on physiology.

What is your approach to teaching physics for life science students?

I focus my IPLS instruction on issues that complement and support the instruction that my students receive in their biology and chemistry classes. This has implications on many levels includes broad issues such as learning how to think with and interpret symbolic equations, to understand thinking about physical mechanism, and to understand science as modeling, and specific issues, such as helping students understand diffusion, fluid flow, chemical binding, and entropy. I teach physics to demonstrate that taking a physics perspective often can provide deeper understanding of what they have learning in biology and chemistry classes.

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CONTRIBUTIONS

Ray Optics Virtual Lab

Remote Learning, In-class activity, Lab, Homework, Restricted access, Student reading, Exam problem

Vetted

A lab designed as an online replacement for a hands-on exploration of the principles of optics.

Animal Adaptations, Natural Selection and Adaptation, Vision

Straight Line Propagation, Reflection - Flat Surfaces, Reflection - Curved Surfaces, Refractive Index, Refraction - Flat Surfaces, Thin Lens, Thick Lens

Edward Redish

Ray optics online lab

Remote Learning, In-class activity, Lab

Vetted

A lab designed as an online replacement for a hands-on explorations of the principles of optics.

Animal Adaptations, Natural Selection and Adaptation

Straight Line Propagation, Reflection - Flat Surfaces, Reflection - Curved Surfaces, Refractive Index, Refraction - Flat Surfaces, Thin Lens, Thick Lens

Edward Redish

Ray optics homework problem

Remote Learning, Homework, Restricted access

Vetted

A homework problem on how the evolution of the eye is constrained by physics.

Natural Selection and Adaptation, Animal Vision Adaptations

Thin Lens

Edward Redish

Ray optics readings

Remote Learning, Student reading

Vetted

A set of brief readings introducing the basic principles of ray optics.

Optical Imaging

Straight Line Propagation, Reflection - Flat Surfaces, Reflection - Curved Surfaces, Refractive Index, Refraction - Flat Surfaces, Thin Lens

Edward Redish

Ray optics exam and quiz questions

Remote Learning, Exam problem, Restricted access

Vetted

Questions on ray optics appropriate for a quiz or exam. Some questions involve curved mirrors discussed in the readings but not the lab.

None

Geometrical Optics

Edward Redish

4 MORE

Using math in physics - Toy models

Instructor supplement, Restricted access, Student reading, Homework

Vetted

A set of readings and problems on the use of simplified (toy) models in physics.

Evolution, Causal Mechanisms, The Cell, Matter/energy Transfer & Transforms, Neural Info: Processing & Transport

Classical Mechanics, Fluid Mechanics, Oscillations & Waves, Thermo & Stat Mech, Electricity & Magnetism, Optics

Edward Redish

Toy models - Student readings

Student reading

Vetted

Some readings for students on modeling in physics

None

Edward Redish

Toy models - Problems

Homework, Restricted access

Vetted

A collection of 110 problems appropriate for homework emphasizing modeling cutting across many topics.

Animal Adaptations, Healthy Neural Function, Photosynthesis, Bioenergetics

Motion in One Dimension, Motion in Two Dimensions, Newton's Second Law, Applications of Newton's Laws, Work and Energy, Electrostatics, Electric Fields and Potential, Capacitance, Resistance, DC Circuits, Surface Tension, Oscillations, Wave Motion, Ensembles, Kinetic and Diffusive Processes, Flow Rate, Hagen-Poiseuille Equation, Temperature, Entropy, Second Law Formulations, Thermodynamic Potentials, Reflection - Flat Surfaces, Thin Lens, Synthesis and Analysis of Color, Probability Density, Equation of Continuity

Edward Redish

Toy models - Newton's laws

Homework, Restricted access

Vetted

One essay question appropriate for homework, an exam, or class discussion on modeling in Newton's framework for describing motion.

None

Newton's Second Law

Edward Redish

Toy models - Models of forces

Homework, Restricted access

Vetted

A collection of 15 problems appropriate for homework emphasizing modeling elastic, electric, and resistive forces.

Bioenergetics

Motion in One Dimension, Motion in Two Dimensions, Newton's Second Law, Applications of Newton's Laws

Edward Redish

Toy models - Coherent vs random motion

Homework, Restricted access

Vetted

A collection of 7 problems appropriate for homework emphasizing modeling in the application of diffusion to biological examples.

Healthy Neural Function, Cellular Interactions

Diffusion of Fluids

Edward Redish

Toy models - Solids

Homework, Restricted access

Vetted

One long homework problem emphasizing with biological relevance modeling on fruit flies.

Botany, Human and Animal Physiology

None

Edward Redish

Toy models - Fluids

Homework, Restricted access

Vetted

A set of 6 problems appropriate for homework emphasizing modeling focusing on the property of fluids.

Medical Applications, Human and Animal Physiology

Surface Tension, Flow Rate, Hagen-Poiseuille Equation, Equation of Continuity

Edward Redish

Toy models - Heat and temperature

Homework, Restricted access

Vetted

A set of 5 problems appropriate for homework emphasizing modeling on the thermal properties of matter.

None

Temperature

Edward Redish

Toy models - Mechanical energy

Homework, Restricted access

Vetted

A set of 5 problems appropriate for homework emphasizing modeling in the treatment of mechanical energy.

Bioenergetics

Motion in One Dimension, Motion in Two Dimensions, Newton's Second Law, Applications of Newton's Laws, Work and Energy

Edward Redish

Toy models - Chemical energy

Homework, Restricted access

Vetted

A set of 10 problems appropriate for homework emphasizing modeling focusing on chemical energies.

Photosynthesis, Bioenergetics

Applications of Newton's Laws, Work and Energy

Edward Redish

Toy models - Thermo and stat mech

Homework, Restricted access

Vetted

A set of 23 problems appropriate for homework emphasizing modeling in helping to understanding the statistical approach to thermodynamics.

Bioenergetics

Ensembles, Kinetic and Diffusive Processes, Temperature, Entropy, Second Law Formulations, Thermodynamic Potentials, Probability Density

Edward Redish

Toy models - Electricity

Homework, Restricted access

Vetted

A set of 19 problems appropriate for homework emphasizing modeling cutting across many topics.

Healthy Neural Function, Bioenergetics

Electrostatics, Electric Fields and Potential, Capacitance, Resistance, DC Circuits

Edward Redish

Toy models - Oscillations

Homework, Restricted access

Vetted

A set of 5 problems appropriate for homework emphasizing modeling on the topic of oscillations.

None

Newton's Second Law, Applications of Newton's Laws, Work and Energy, Oscillations

Edward Redish

Toy models - Waves

Homework, Restricted access

Vetted

A set of 7 problems appropriate for homework emphasizing modeling on the topic of waves.

Healthy Neural Function, Ultrasound & Doppler

Wave Motion, Transverse Pulses and Waves, Wave Properties of Sound, Wave Analysis and Synthesis

Edward Redish

Toy models - Light

Homework, Restricted access

Vetted

A set of 5 problems appropriate for homework emphasizing modeling on the topic of light.

Animal Adaptations

Reflection - Flat Surfaces, Thin Lens, Synthesis and Analysis of Color

Edward Redish

13 MORE

2 MORE

Using math in physics - Functional dependence

Instructor supplement, Restricted access, Homework, Student reading, In-class activity, Lecture materials, Exam problem

Vetted

An introduction to functional dependence with readings, problems, and examples throughout the curriculum

Evolution, Physical Mechanisms, Intracellular Components, Cellular Structure, Surface Area/volume, Synapse Structure/Function, Signaling Molecules, Medical Applications, Cardiovascular System

Electrostatics, Color, Oscillations, Force of Surface Tension, Capillary Action, Flow Rate, Hagen-Poiseuille Equation, Viscosity, Transverse Pulses and Waves, Wave Packets, Diffusion, Coulomb's Law, Electric Field, Thin Lens, Equation of Continuity

Edward Redish

Functional dependence - Introduction

Instructor supplement, Restricted access, Homework

Vetted

An instructor's guide to the Functional Dependence unit including a description of the contents, a short paper, and a list of the problems.

None

Edward Redish

Functional dependence - Student readings

Student reading

Vetted

Reading for students providing an introduction to functional dependence and scaling in the open source NEXUS/Physics wiki textbook.

None

Edward Redish

Functional dependence - Classroom activities

In-class activity, Lecture materials

Vetted

An extended groupwork activity that helps students analyze and see functional dependence in equations important to biology

Physical Mechanisms, Cardiovascular System

Flow Rate, Hagen-Poiseuille Equation, Viscosity, Diffusion

Edward Redish

Functional dependence - Problems with solutions

Homework, Restricted access

Vetted

A collection of 78 problems throughout the class that are best done by focusing on functional dependence

Evolution, Physical Mechanisms, Intracellular Components, Cellular Structure, Surface Area/volume, Synapse Structure/Function, Signaling Molecules, Medical Applications, Cardiovascular System

Edward Redish

Functional dependence problems - General

Homework, Restricted access

Vetted

A collection of 16 problems that focusing on functional dependence using geometry and exponentials, often in a biological context.

Physical Mechanisms, Intracellular Components, Cellular Structure, Surface Area/volume, Medical Applications

None

Edward Redish

Functional dependence problems - Models of force

Homework, Restricted access

Vetted

A collection of 16 problems that focusing on functional dependence in the study of forces, especially electrical.

Evolution, Physical Mechanisms

Electrostatics, Force of Surface Tension, Viscosity, Coulomb's Law, Equation of Continuity

Edward Redish

Coherent vs random motion

Homework

Vetted

A collection of 8 problems on diffusion that are best done by focusing on functional dependence

Intracellular Components, Cellular Structure, Surface Area/volume, Synapse Structure/Function, Signaling Molecules

Diffusion

Edward Redish

Solids

Homework, Restricted access

Vetted

Three problems on the topic of the springiness of solids that are best done by focusing on functional dependence

None

Stresses

Edward Redish

Fluids

Homework, Restricted access

Vetted

A collection of 13 problems concerning fluids that focus on functional dependence, many with biological or medical contexts.

Physical Mechanisms, Intracellular Components, Cellular Structure, Surface Area/volume, Medical Applications, Cardiovascular System

Force of Surface Tension, Capillary Action, Flow Rate, Hagen-Poiseuille Equation, Viscosity, Equation of Continuity

Edward Redish

Heat and temperature

Homework, Restricted access

Vetted

One problem on heat flow that is best done by focusing on functional dependence

Physical Mechanisms

None

Edward Redish

Mechanical energy

Homework, Restricted access

Vetted

Two problems on mechanical energy that are best done by focusing on functional dependence

None

Linear Momentum, Electrostatics, Conservation of Energy, Coulomb's Law

Edward Redish

Chemical energy

Homework, Restricted access

Vetted

One problem one the structure of the interatomic potential that is best done by focusing on functional dependence

None

Atomic Physics

Edward Redish

Thermodynamics and statistical physics

Homework, Restricted access

Vetted

Three problems on statistical physics in biological and chemical contexts that are best done by focusing on functional dependence

Cellular Structure

Diffusion

Edward Redish

Electricity

Homework, Restricted access

Vetted

A collection of 11 problems on electric fields and potentials that are best done by focusing on functional dependence

None

Electrostatics, Coulomb's Law, Electric Field

Edward Redish

Oscillations

Homework, Restricted access

Vetted

Two problems on the topic of oscillations that are best done by focusing on functional dependence

None

Oscillations

Edward Redish

Waves

Homework, Restricted access

Vetted

A collection of 5 problems on the topic of wave motion that are best done by focusing on functional dependence

None

Transverse Pulses and Waves, Wave Packets

Edward Redish

Light

Homework, Restricted access

Vetted

A set of 5 problems concerning light that are best done by focusing on functional dependence

None

Color, Thin Lens

Edward Redish

13 MORE

Functional dependence - Quiz & exam problems

Exam problem, Restricted access

Vetted

A collection of 10 problems appropriate for a quiz or exam that are best done by focusing on functional dependence. Solutions not provided.

Physical Mechanisms, Surface Area/volume, Medical Applications

Diffusion

Edward Redish

5 MORE

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