UGEB1504 Forces of Life
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UGEB1504 Forces of Life

All lifeforms are governed by the law of physics. This course surveys how our living world cleverly and sometimes surprisingly deploys the principles of physics: we will first have a macroscopic view of how energy is transported in ecosystem without violating the laws of thermodynamics. This is followed by discussion on how physical concepts are embedded in everyday activities of living organisms such as movement, communication, hunting and navigation. As a closing remark, we will go beyond our own planet and discuss how the physical environment in other habitable exoplanets may shape potential lifeform. Through exploring the delicate interplay between lifeforms and the physical world, this course aims at looking at our living world from a new perspective and cultivating a sense of awe for nature. No prior knowledge in physics or biology is expected.
Lecturer

Hoi Tik Alvin LEUNG
Office: Room 222, 2/F, Science Centre North Block, Tel: 39436278, Email: htaleung@phy.cuhk.edu.hk
Consultation Hour: Thurs 4pm-6pm

Teaching Assistant(s)

Mr Joey Gais
Office: N/A, Tel: 5440-9958, Email: joeyjgais@gmail.com
Consultation Hour: Wednesday 3:30 PM- 5:15 PM

Lecture Class

Mon 2:30 pm-4:15 pm Room 101, Y.C. Liang Hall
Wed 1:30 pm-2:15 pm Room LG23, Science Centre

Main Reading Text:

  • Furry Logic, The Physics of Animal Life, Matin Durrani, Liz Kalaugher, Bloomsbury Sigma (2016)
  • Wormwood Forest: A Natural History of Chernobyl, Mary Mycio, Joseph Henry Press, (1st Edition) (2005)

    • Reference Books

  • Atkin¡¦s Molecules, Peter Atkins, Cambridge University Press(2nd edition) (2003)
  • The Laws of Thermodynamics: A Very Short Introduction, Peter Atkins, Oxford University Press (2010)
  • Principle of Animal Communication, Jack W. Bradbury, Sandra . Vehrencamp, Sinauer Associates (2011)
  • Nature's Flyers, David E. Alexander, Johns Hopkins (2004)
  • Nature's Compass, James L. Gould and Carol Grant Could, Princeton (2011)

    • Assessment Scheme

    Homework (5 sets) 15%
    Essay/science demonstrations 10%
    Mid-term Test 25%
    Final Exam. 50%

    Course Outline

  • Chapter 1: From Atoms to Organism
    A brief overview the major constituents of life.
  • Chapter 2: Energy

    The previous part lays out the cornerstone for the subsequent parts to build on. To survive, many living organisms have to move to carry out important processes such as feeding and avoiding predators. We will look at how terrestrial animals, aquatic animals, flying animals and even microorganism move.
  • Chapter 3: Communication using sound and light
    Animal communication is essential for life processes, whether it is for feeding or reproduction. In the third part, we will look at how sound and light waves are deployed in animal communication.
  • Chapter 4: Movement
    The previous part lays out the cornerstone for the subsequent parts to build on. To survive, many living organisms have to move to carry out important processes such as feeding and avoiding predators. We will look at how terrestrial animals, aquatic animals, flying animals and even microorganism move.
  • Chapter 5: Our world experienced by other organisms
    The world at low Reynolds number is quite different from the one that we human beings experience. This part looks at some interesting problems bacteria face in the world of very low Reynolds number.
  • Chapter 6: Bird Flights
    This part investigates some basic physical principles in fluid mechanics and how birds glide, soar, hover or flap their wings to fly.
  • Chapter 7: Bird Navigation
    One of the long-standing mysteries in sensory biology is how birds sense direction in migration. In the fourth part, we will look at some plausible mechanisms of bird navigating with light and magnetic field.
  • Chapter 8: Radiation
    We will look at the impact of the Chernobyl disaster 30 years ago on life there.