Energy Flow in Organisms

Front

Phototrophs Noun

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[foh-toh-trohfs]

Back

Phototrophs

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Organisms that create their own food by capturing light energy from the sun through the process of photosynthesis.

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Example: A plant uses sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to produce glucose and oxygen, demonstrating how phototrophs make their own food.

Front

Consumers Noun

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[kuhn-soo-mers]

Back

Consumers

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Organisms that cannot make their own food and must eat other organisms to obtain energy for life functions.

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Example: The pyramid shows consumers like birds and snakes that eat other organisms for energy.

Front

Photosynthesis Noun

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[foh-toh-sin-thuh-sis]

Back

Photosynthesis

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The process used by plants to convert light energy, water, and carbon dioxide into chemical energy as glucose.

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Example: This diagram shows how plants use sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to produce oxygen and sugar through photosynthesis.

Front

Cellular Respiration Noun

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[sel-yuh-ler res-puh-rey-shuhn]

Back

Cellular Respiration

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The chemical process where cells break down nutrients like glucose to release usable energy in the form of ATP.

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Example: The image shows how glucose and oxygen are converted into carbon dioxide, water, and energy (ATP) in cellular respiration.

Front

Metabolism Noun

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[muh-tab-uh-liz-uhm]

Back

Metabolism

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The total of all chemical reactions within an organism that are necessary to sustain life and produce energy.

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Example: Glucose is broken down in cells to produce energy (ATP) through metabolism.

Front

Chloroplast Noun

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[klor-uh-plast]

Back

Chloroplast

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An organelle found in plant cells where the process of photosynthesis occurs to convert light into chemical energy.

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Example: The image shows a chloroplast inside a plant leaf, highlighting parts like the thylakoid where photosynthesis happens.

Front

Mitochondrion Noun

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[mahy-toh-kon-dree-uhn]

Back

Mitochondrion

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The organelle in cells that generates most of the cell's supply of ATP through cellular respiration.

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Example: This diagram shows the parts of a mitochondrion, highlighting where ATP is produced.

Front

ATP (adenosine triphosphate) Noun

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[ey-tee-pee]

Back

ATP (adenosine triphosphate)

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The main energy-carrying molecule used by cells to power metabolic processes and other essential cellular functions.

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Example: The mitochondrion converts food into ATP, the cell's energy currency.

Front

Glucose Noun

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[gloo-kohs]

Back

Glucose

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A simple sugar that is an important energy source in living organisms and a key product of photosynthesis.

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Example: The image shows glucose's molecular structure, highlighting carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms.

Front

Reactants Noun

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[ree-ak-tuhnts]

Back

Reactants

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The starting materials or substances that are consumed during the course of a chemical reaction to form products.

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Example: Methane and oxygen are reactants that react to form carbon dioxide and water.