Energy Introduction
IN THE SLIDES THAT FOLLOW WE WILL
REVIEW SOME BASIC PRINCIPLES OF
ECOLOGY AND ENERGY.
MOST OF THIS SHOULD BE A REVIEW OF
JUNIOR HIGH SCIENCE.
PLEASE ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS IN RED
ON A SEPARATE PIECE OF PAPER!
Energy Flow
Does this look familiar?
You have probably seen some type of energy pyramid
before.
Energy Flow
Look within the boxes. Notice words like producer,
herbivore and carnivore. If you do not remember what
these words mean click here!
Energy Flow
Look at the boxes again, notice that they get smaller as
they move up the pyramid. This is for a few reasons.
Energy Flow
Energy is lost at each level. So the amount of energy
available to the bottom level is larger than the top!
Click here to review energy pyramids so far!
Energy Flow
Biomass, amount of organisms, decreases as you move
up the pyramid.
Energy Flow
Look along the LEFT, these are the trophic levels. If
you do not remember what a trophic level is click here!
Questions!
1. What is the difference between a producer and a
consumer?
2. Provide a quick definition of each of the following
words:
a. Herbivore
b. Carnivore
c. Omnivore
3. Why does the energy available decrease as you
rise up the pyramid?
Energy Flow
Does this look familiar?
Here is a food web and a food chain.
Click here to review food
chains.
Questions!
4. What is the difference between a food web and a
food chain?
5. Think about what you ate for breakfast. Write
out a food chain originating with a producer and
ending with you.
Energy Flow
 This year we are
going to look at
the flow of
energy through
our ecosystem at
a molecular
level.
 The molecules
flow in a cycle –
not a pyramid.
6. What type of energy goes into this cycle?
7. What type of energy comes out of this cycle?
8. What 4 molecules are cycled during this cycle?
Energy Introduction
part 2
GETTING TO KNOW OUR MOLECULES
AS WE TALK ABOUT THE FLOW OF ENERGY
THROUGH LIVING THINGS WE WILL LOOK
AT MANY MOLECULES. THE FOLLOWING
SLIDES INTRODUCE YOU TO SOME OF
THESE…
PLEASE ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS IN RED
ON A SEPARATE PIECE OF PAPER!
GLUCOSE
What is the chemical formula for glucose? (hint: the chemical
formula for water is H2O)
2. Where is energy stored in this molecule?
1.
Energy in Molecules
 Plants store the energy from the Sun in Glucose. Energy is stored in the
bonds between the atoms. Cells cannot use Glucose. Therefore cells
must convert glucose into a usable form of energy. This is like
converting an MP3 to a MPEG file for your IPOD. The usable form of
energy for cells is ATP. Like Glucose, ATP stores energy in the bonds
between the atoms.
3. Why do cells have to convert glucose into ATP?
ATP
4. Draw a basic picture of ATP on your paper.
5. How many phosphate groups does it appear to have?
6. Where is energy stored in this molecule?
ATP
Click on the link. Read over the page and watch the short
animation. ATP-ADP Cycle
7. What appears to be the difference between ATP and ADP?
8. Draw a basic diagram of how ATP and ADP are related on your
paper.
Energy in Molecules
 Cells use ATP, like your IPOD uses a battery. They drain the energy
from the molecule. This is done by breaking 1 bond (specifically the
bond between the phosphate groups). When the molecule is drained of
its energy it is called ADP. ADP is like a battery that has gone dead.
Luckily, just like your IPOD you can recharge ADP. When you recharge
ADP you add a phosphate group (make a bond) and bring the molecule
back to the fully charged ATP.
9. How is energy released from ATP?
10. How are ATP and ADP like a battery?
 Photosynthesis and cellular respiration are the two
processes in living things that are responsible for
transforming energy from the Sun into ATP. First,
plants transform solar energy into chemical energy
(Glucose) during photosynthesis. Then, plants and
animals transform the chemical energy in Glucose to
ATP for cellular work during cellular respiration.
11. Draw a diagram like the one above on your
paper. Use chemical formulas instead of words
to describe words like water and glucose.
12. Use the diagram to help you write an equation
for photosynthesis.
HELP!
13. Use the diagram to help you write an equation
for cellular respiration.
HELP!
14. Use the diagram to help you copy & complete
the following table. (use the word bank on the next slide if needed)
Photosynthesis
Purpose?
Location?
Reactants?
Products?
Equation?
Cellular Respiration
You may use some of these more than once!
 Mitochondria
 Store Energy (as food)
 Glucose & O2
 Release Energy (as ATP)
 Chloroplast
 CO2 & H2O
HELP!