Passive Transport

Front

What is passive transport?

Back

Passive transport is the movement of substances across a cell membrane without the use of energy, relying on concentration gradients.

Front

What is the role of the cell membrane in passive transport?

Back

The cell membrane controls what substances may enter or leave the cell, helping maintain homeostasis.

Front

Define osmosis.

Back

Osmosis is the diffusion of water molecules across a selectively permeable membrane from an area of higher water concentration to an area of lower water concentration.

Front

How does osmosis affect plant cells?

Back

Osmosis allows water to enter plant cells, causing them to swell and maintain turgor pressure, which keeps the plant upright.

Front

What happens to a cell in a hypertonic solution?

Back

In a hypertonic solution, water moves out of the cell, causing it to shrink.

Front

What happens to a cell in a hypotonic solution?

Back

In a hypotonic solution, water moves into the cell, causing it to swell and potentially burst.

Front

What is the difference between diffusion and osmosis?

Back

Diffusion is the movement of any substance from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration, while osmosis specifically refers to the movement of water.

Front

What is a concentration gradient?

Back

A concentration gradient is the difference in the concentration of a substance across a space, which drives the movement of substances during passive transport.

Front

What is turgor pressure?

Back

Turgor pressure is the pressure exerted by water inside the central vacuole of a plant cell against the cell wall, helping maintain the cell's shape.

Front

What is facilitated diffusion?

Back

Facilitated diffusion is a type of passive transport that uses protein channels to help move substances across the cell membrane.