That’s How the Kangaroo Bounces: A Biological Case Study to Teach Energy Concepts

Abstract

A growing number of Introductory Physics for Life Sciences courses have been developed to prepare biology, premedicine, and pre-health majors for cross-disciplinary connections between physical principles and biological systems. Many students find it challenging to apply idealized algebra-based general physics to more complex biological systems. A novel biological case study was developed to teach undergraduates to expand their energy transformation analysis of a simple system—a bouncing ball—to a more complex biological system of a kangaroo hopping. Similar to a ball, kangaroos transform elastic potential energy into kinetic energy to power their “bouncing.” Unlike the bouncing ball, kangaroos gain additional potential energy through metabolic processes. Students follow a sequence of guided tutorials that facilitate small-group learning as they evaluate quantitative data from video analysis with metabolic energy expenditures from literature to synthesize a real-world understanding of energy transformations. In this article, we describe learning progressions, practical tips for teaching, and lessons learned in this activity covering energy transformations.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Erin M. Craig

Erin M. Craig ([email protected]) is an associate professor in the Department of Physics

Sydney Galbreath

Sydney Galbreath ([email protected]) graduated from CWU in 2021 with a degree in biochemistry and is now enrolled in the Washington State University College of Pharmacy in Spokane, Washington.

Timothy Sorey

Timothy Sorey ([email protected]) is a professor in the Department of Chemistry, all at Central Washington University (CWU) in Ellensburg, Washington.

Derek Ricketson

Derek Ricketson ([email protected]) is a senior lecturer in the Department of Chemistry