Chapter 4: The Energy of Life

What attributes are characteristics of a living system? (Choose all that apply)

• Organizes matter

• Uses energy to perform useful work

• Uses energy to create temporary order within itself

• Obeys the second law of thermodynamics

Life requires energy ____________________.

• to accomplish useful work - the processes of life

• because life creates energy

• because life destroys energy

• because otherwise we get sleepy

The second law of thermodynamics says that with the passage of time, disorder increases.

• True

• False

Although matter exists in low-entropy state within an organism, it is local and temporary, and requires more energy to create than it retains.

• True

• False

Heterotrophy refers to those organisms that must get their energy from other organisms.

• True

• False

Cellular respiration is ______________________.

• the act of breathing

• the conversion of carbohydrates to usable energy

• not carried out by primary producers

• BOTH: act of breathing and conversion of carbohydrates to usable energy

Primary producers are ________________________.

• organisms that create energy-rich compounds; phytoplankton

• organisms that must get all their energy from other organisms; zooplankton

• organisms that create energy-rich compounds; zooplankton

• organisms that must get all their energy from other organisms; phytoplankton

Photosynthesis is the process of converting light energy into carbon dioxide.

• True

• False

Photosynthesis is the production of high-energy compounds from light and low-energy compounds. Cellular respiration is the release of energy from high-energy compounds as they convert into low-energy compounds.

• True

• False

Chemosynthesis is similar to photosynthesis because it uses sunlight, but different because it doesn't produce carbohydrates.

• True

• False