Energy and Energy Transfers Exam Review

This set of flashcards covers key concepts related to energy, energy transfers, thermodynamics, and metabolism based on lecture notes.

Kinetic Energy

The energy of a body that is in motion.

Potential Energy

The energy possessed by a body due to its position or condition.

First Law of Thermodynamics

Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed from one form to another.

Entropy

The measure of disorder in a system.

Catabolic Reaction

A chemical reaction that breaks down larger molecules into smaller ones, releasing energy.

Metabolism

The sum of all chemical reactions that occur within a living organism.

ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate)

The primary energy carrier molecule in cells.

Autotrophs

Organisms that produce their own food, typically through photosynthesis.

Heterotrophs

Organisms that obtain energy by consuming organic substances.

Energy Conversion

The process of changing one form of energy into another, such as sunlight to chemical energy in glucose.

Heat Energy

Thermal energy released during processes like combustion, which can be explained by the laws of thermodynamics.