When teaching physics, it is often difficult to get biology-oriented students to see the relevance of physics.1 A complaint often heard is that biology students are required to take physics for the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) as part of a “weeding out” process, but that they don't feel like they need physics for biology. Despite this impression held by students, there have been calls for better physics education for future physicians and life scientists.2,3 Research is being performed to improve physics classes and labs by linking topics in biology and physics.4,5 Described here is a laboratory experiment covering the topics of resistance of materials and circuits/Kirchhoff's laws in a biology context with their direct application to neurons, axons, and electrical impulse transmission within animals. This experiment will also demonstrate the mechanism believed to cause multiple sclerosis. The apparatus was designed with low-cost and readily available materials in mind.

Topics
Electrical resistivity, Voltmeter, Circuit theorems, Laboratory procedures, Signal processing, Polymers, Educational assessment, Nerve cells, Action potential, Musculoskeletal system
1.
G.
 
Kortemeyer
, “
The challenge of teaching introductory physics to premedical students
,”
Phys. Teach.
 
45
,
552
–
557
(
Dec. 2007
).
https://doi.org/10.1119/1.2809149
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
2.
C.
 
Crouch
 et al., “
Physics for future physicians and life scientists: A moment of opportunity
,”
APS News.
 
19
,
3
(
March 2010
).
Google Scholar
 
3.
Conference on Physics in Undergraduate Quantitative Life Science Education, http://www.gwu.edu/∼ipls/.
4.
M.
 
Plomer
,
K.
 
Jessen
,
G.
 
Rangelov
, and
M.
 
Meyer
, “
Teaching physics in a physiological meaningful manner
,”
Phys. Rev. ST-PER.
 
6
,
020116
(
2010
).
Google Scholar
 
5.
J.
 
Watkins
,
J. E.
 
Coffey
,
E. F.
 
Redish
, and
T. J.
 
Cooke
, “
Disciplinary authenticity: Enriching the reforms of introductory physics courses for life-science students
,”
Phys. Rev. ST-PER
 
8
,
010112
(
2012
).
Google Scholar
 
6.
“Stem cells for spinal cord injuries,” Scientopia.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 April 2014, http://scientopia.org/blogs/scicurious/2006/07/19/stem-cells-for-spinal-cord-injuries.
© 2014 American Association of Physics Teachers.
2014
American Association of Physics Teachers
AAPT members receive access to The Physics Teacher and the American Journal of Physics as a member benefit. To learn more about this member benefit and becoming an AAPT member, visit the Joining AAPT page.