Energetics of Living Systems

Energetics

The study of energy flow and transformation within biological systems.

Photosynthesis

The process by which photosynthetic organisms like plants and algae utilize sunlight to produce organic compounds.

Cellular Respiration

The process through which heterotrophic organisms obtain energy from organic materials.

Chemical Energy

Energy stored in the bonds of molecules, such as ATP used during cellular respiration.

Kinetic Energy

Energy used for movements, for example, muscle contractions.

Thermal Energy

Energy released as heat during metabolic processes.

First Law of Thermodynamics

Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed (Law of Conservation of Energy).

Second Law of Thermodynamics

The entropy of a closed system always increases, meaning energy transformations are not 100% efficient.

Anabolism

Energy-consuming processes that build complex molecules from simpler ones, like protein synthesis.

Catabolism

Energy-releasing processes that break down complex molecules into simpler ones, such as glycolysis.

Bioenergetics

The study of how energy flows through living organisms.

ATP

The primary energy currency in cells, generated during cellular respiration.

Ecosystem Energetics

The study of energy flow through ecosystems from producers to consumers and decomposers.

Trophic Levels

Different levels in a food web where energy is transferred, typically from producers to primary consumers and beyond.

Energy Flow

The movement of energy through ecosystems, starting from producers to consumers and decomposers.