Review FLOW and TRANSFER OF ENERGY in Living Systems

Review FLOW and TRANSFER OF ENERGY in Living Systems

By Rachel Butler

TRANSFORMATION OF ENERGY WITHIN AN ORGANISM

I can diagram examples of transformations of energy within an organism

• Chemical energy in food is consumed by an organism during the digestion process. This energy is then converted into the chemical energy needed for bodily functions such as building new cells.

• Some of the energy is transformed into the thermal energy needed to maintain normal body temperatures. Chemical and thermal energy transform into mechanical energy when the organism moves.

Multiple Choice

In organisms, some chemical energy from food will be transformed into –

• thermal energy.

• electrical energy.

• sound energy.

• solar energy.

Multiple Choice

Animals are able to move by using the energy from the food they eat. This conversion is from what type of energy to what other type of energy?

• Radiant → chemical

• Thermal → electrical

• Chemical → mechanical

• Sound → chemical

Multiple Choice

When a plant performs photosynthesis, the radiant energy of the Sun is –

• released into the atmosphere.

• used in the process.

• transported into the soil through the roots

• stored as chemical energy.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following energy transformations takes place during digestion?

• Chemical energy → thermal energy

• Radiant energy → chemical energy

• Mechanical energy → chemical energy

• Chemical energy → radiant energy

Multiple Choice

Which of the following organisms regularly transforms radiant energy into chemical energy?

• Deer

• Tree

• Cow

• Human

Multiple Choice

The energy cows need to move about comes from the grass they eat. The energy in the grass is transformed from –

• mechanical energy → radiant energy.

• radiant energy → chemical energy.

• chemical energy → mechanical energy.

• electrical energy → thermal energy.

Multiple Choice

During digestion, chemical energy is transformed into useable forms of energy, including –

• electrical energy.

• light energy.

• radiant energy.

• mechanical energy.

PHOTOSYNTHESIS

I can describe how energy is transformed in the process of photosynthesis.

• In plants, light energy from the sun (radiant energy) is transformed into chemical energy (glucose/sugar). This process is called photosynthesis.

• During photosynthesis in green plants, radiant energy is captured in chlorophyll and used to convert water, carbon dioxide, and minerals into oxygen and glucose.

• Chlorophyll is found in a special structure called chloroplasts which are part of plant cells. 

Photosynthesis is a chemical reaction: 6CO₂ + 6H₂O + light → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂

Multiple Choice

The role of the Sun during photosynthesis is to serve as a source of –

• hydrogen atoms

• radiant energy

• gravitational pull.

• carbon dioxide.

Multiple Choice

Which best describes a process of photosynthesis?

Photosynthesis is the process by which plants convert ...

• radiant energy into chemical energy.

• heat energy into mechanical energy.

• heat energy and chemical energy.

• chemical energy into heat energy.

Multiple Choice

Plants need radiant energy and which of the following resources for photosynthesis?

• Glucose and water

• Oxygen and water

• Carbon dioxide and water

• Oxygen and glucose

Multiple Choice

The diagram provided illustrates the process of photosynthesis, including the substances used by and produced by plants. What is the identity of the chemical represented by the question mark in the diagram?

• Hydrogen

• Water

• Carbon

• Nitrogen

Multiple Choice

Glucose helps maintain life on our planet by storing –

• chemical energy.

• useable minerals.

• carbon dioxide.

• oxygen

FLOW OF ENERGY IN LIVING SYSTEM

I can diagram the flow of energy through living systems.

• Interactions that occur between matter and energy can be examined by using a variety of models. The flow of energy through living systems can be modeled as food chains, food webs or energy pyramids.

• Food chains diagram the transformation of energy as it flows from the Sun to producers (plants) to primary consumers (herbivores), to secondary consumers (carnivores that eat herbivores) to tertiary consumers (carnivores that eat carnivores).

• Food webs diagram the complex relationships of energy flow in an ecosystem containing a variety of producers and consumers.

• Energy pyramids diagram the decreasing amount of available energy as it flows from one trophic level to the next moving from producers at the bottom of the food pyramid to tertiary consumers at the top of the food pyramid. Energy transfer from one trophic level to the next is not efficient because some energy transforms into heat and is therefore unavailable to the next level on the pyramid.

Multiple Choice

A diagram of a pond food chain is provided. Which organism in the food chain is a primary consumer?

• Beetle

• Plant

• Catfish

• Hawk

Multiple Choice

In any habitat, which group of organisms provides the primary source of energy for all other organisms?

• Producers

• Primary consumers

• Secondary consumers

• Decomposers

Multiple Choice

In the energy pyramid diagrams pictured here, the width of the level represents available energy provided by organisms at that level. Which one most accurately represents the correct distribution of energy?

Multiple Choice

In a food web, primary consumers get their energy by -

• engaging in photosynthesis.

• breaking down dead organisms.

• eating other primary consumers.

• eating organisms known as producers.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following would get its energy from a primary consumer, and when eaten, transfers the energy to a top predator?

• The Sun

• A producer

• A carnivore

• A herbivore

Multiple Choice

A food web for a grassland ecosystem is shown. Which of the organisms listed in the food web gets its energy by eating primary consumers?

• Grasses

• Rabbits

• Deer

• Mountain lion

Multiple Choice

A food web diagram is provided. Which of the following organisms depends directly on primary consumers for its energy?

• Grasshopper

• Acacia trees

• Impala

• Monkey