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Energy Transformations An intro to energy conversions in living things Molecular Biology Sumner High School Created by Mr. Woodbury, Modified by K. Slater
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Big Question What is the relationship between life, matter and energy?
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Our two first definitions Energy: The capacity to do work. Examples: Energy stored in gasoline to make a car go, food to supply energy for motion. Food: Molecules that contain energy that can be converted into a useable form in organisms. Where is the energy stored? Within strong covalent bonds.
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Glucose: C 6 H 12 O 6
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Two categories of energy Potential Energy: stored energy and the energy of position Chemical Nuclear Gravitational Stored mechanical
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The other form... Kinetic Energy: the energy of motion Motion… duh Radiant (electromagnetic waves… aka light energy) Sound Thermal (heat) Electrical
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Quick Check Which of the following is an example of potential energy? A) The sound of a teacher’s voice B) Warmth from a heater C) Sugar D) Radio signal from a remote control Answer: C
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What types of PE, KE and energy transformations are in this pic?
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#8. Identify one energy transformation…
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My list... Potential Energy Diver waiting to jump: gravitational People: chemical Sun: nuclear Kinetic Energy Diver: motion People: sound & thermal Sun: thermal & radiant Ocean: motion Energy Conversions Diver: gravitational (PE) to motion (KE) People: chemical (PE) into thermal, sound & motion (KEs) Sun: nuclear (PE) into thermal & radiant (KEs)
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Next Question Do these forms of energy always stay in the same form? No, they can be transformed from one type to another. Energy transformation = changing one form of energy into other forms as a result of some event or process.
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Energy Transformations Remember: energy cannot be… We don’t really “use” energy, we just alter the form or type Especially in living systems
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A mental inquiry... What are the energy transformations done by an iPod? List the transformation and the start and end energy types. Foundation level: transformations done by the iPod itself (general types of energy: potential & kinetic) Challenge level: include transformations that happen several steps before/after the iPod (detailed types of energy)
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The iPod inquiry Foundation Level: Electricity stored in battery (kinetic to potential) Battery powers light (potential to kinetic) Battery powers headphones (potential to kinetic) Any ideas for Challenge Level?
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Thermodynamics These are the laws of energy First Law of Thermodynamics: “Energy can be transferred and transformed, but it cannot be created or destroyed.” Also known as the principle of conservation of energy. Key idea: there is a fixed amount of energy in the universe. Example: Plants do not produce energy; they transform light energy to chemical energy.
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Thermodynamics Second Law: every energy transfer or transformation increases the entropy (randomness or “chaos”) of the universe. Things are going from being organized to random. Key idea: No transformation is 100% efficient. Energy flows towards making more heat, which is the energy of random molecular motion. Example: nuclear energy of the sun is converted into radiant AND thermal energy
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Harnessing Energy 20% Muscle Contraction Muscle Contraction 60% Heat 40% Useable by cell 100% Total E in Glucose
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Summarize... Plan to take 2-3 minutes to silently summarize all of the information so far into one big idea (20 word max?) I will quasi-randomly call on you to share so we can hear from a variety of people.
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My summary... Living systems transform energy between various forms by controlling the rearrangement of molecules.
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Energy conversions in cell processes... Photosynthesis in the _____________: (organelle name) Radiant energy (KE) → chemical energy (PE) Cellular respiration in the _____________: (organelle name) Chemical energy (glucose / PE) → chemical energy (ATP / PE) → motion (KE)
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Energy Sources... Create a list of as many types of energy that you can think of (including those in today’s PPT) For each type of energy, identify it as potential or kinetic energy
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