Physics of Life

High school (ages 12+)
Science & Technology

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/physics-of-life

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the interdisciplinary domain?Integrates physics methodologies with the study of biological phenomena across all scales
2. What is the theoretical foundations?Draws upon mechanics, thermodynamics, statistical physics, and information theory
3. What does the physics of life study?It looks at how physics rules help explain how living things move, grow, and work. It uses tools like mechanics, thermodynamics, and statistics to build models that predict biology.
4. How do living cells keep order when they are not in equilibrium?Cells use energy gradients and heat dissipation to stay in low‑entropy states, following non‑equilibrium thermodynamics.

Non-equilibrium Thermodynamics: Studies systems that are not in thermal equilibrium, crucial for understanding living processes.
Emergent Properties: Complex behaviors or characteristics that arise from the interaction of simpler components.
Molecular Motors: Biological molecules that convert chemical energy into mechanical work, enabling movement.