Geology test #2

photosynthesis

the process by which plants capture energy from the sun and store it in the chemical bonds of sugar.

cellular respiration

the process by which all living organisms release the energy stored in the chemical bonds of food molecules and use it to fuel their lives

energy

is the capacity to do work. and work is anything that involved moving matter against an opposing force.

kinetic energy

the energy of moving objects

potential energy

a capacity to do work that results from the location or position of an object.

chemical energy

is a form of potential energy stored in chemical bonds.

thermodynamics

the study of the transformation of energy from one type to another, such as from potential energy to kinetic energy.

the 2nd law of thermodynamics

every conversion of energy is not perfectly efficient and invariably includes the transformation of some energy into heat.

the 1st law of thermodynamics

energy can never be created nor destroyed, it can only change from one form to another.

how do cells directly fuel their chemical reactions?

first it must be captured in the bonds of a molecule called ATP

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP)

releases energy to drive chemical reactions necessary for cellular functioning:
building muscle tissue, repairing a wound, growing roots

what is the process of photosynthesis

input:
sunlight + water + CO2
output:
oxygen + sugar

thylakoid

location of "photo" reactions, where light energy is converted into chemical energy (in chloroplast)

stroma

location of "synthesis" reactions, where chemical energy from the "photo' reactions is used to synthesize sugars. (in chloroplast)

light energy

a type of kinetic energy
made up of little energy packets called photons

photons

different photons carry different amounts of energy, carried as waves
length of wave= amount of energy the photon contains

electromagnetic spectrum

range of energy that is organized into waves of different lengths.
shorter the wavelength, higher the energy

chlorophyll

plant pigment which can absorb specific wavelengths of energy from the sun

chlorophyll A

absorbs blue-violet and red wavelengths of light

chlorophyll B

absorbs blue and red-orange wavelengths and reflects yellow green wavelengths

pigments

the light absorbing molecules that allows us to see color

stomata

small pores usually on the underside of leaves
this is one method of combating water loss through evaporation is for plants to close their stomata

C4 photosynthesis

plants produce an enzyme that has a strong attraction for CO2 and can bind with carbon even when the CO2 concentration is very low
gases (CO2) are exchanged through slightly open stomata.
advantage: water loss minimized in warm climates
disadvantage: requ

C3 photosynthesis

gases (CO2) are exchanged through open stomata
advantage: energy efficient
disadvantage: water lost to evaporation in hot climates

CAM photosynthesis

Gases (CO2) are exchanged at night through open stomata.
stomata close during the day
advantage: waterless minimized in hot climates
disadvantage: requires more energy, slow growth