Physics and Life

Facilitator: Brian Jones, physicsjones@gmail.com, (970) 980-1378 Dates: Fridays, April 4 — May 16, 2025 (7 Weeks) Time: 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM Texts: None Presentations: Not required Location: Foxtail 2, Senior Center Class Limit: 30

Chickens have much better color vision than you do, and bees can see beyond the rainbow. There are snakes that can see in complete darkness, and sharks that can sense your heartbeat. Kangaroos can hop as fast as they want and never get winded, and pretty much any animal that runs can go faster than humans can. In this class, we’ll talk about the laws of nature that explain how creatures live and breathe and move around, and the senses they use to understand their world.

The class will be active—we’ll spend much of our time doing hands-on activities. The class will be social—we’ll spend much of the time working and talking with others. If you took a similar class in a previous term, there will be some repeats, but there will be a bunch of new material as well. (Like you, I am always learning!)

We’ll start each class by learning a bit of physics, and then we’ll talk about how the principles apply in the living world. We will assume no background in science, just a sense of curiosity and a desire to learn more!