Energy Flow in the Life of a Cell

Vocabulary flashcards based on lecture notes regarding energy flow in biological systems.

Energy

The capacity to do work and transfer heat.

Kinetic Energy

Energy of movement such as light, heat, electricity, and moving objects.

Potential Energy

Stored energy, such as chemical energy in bonds or electrical charge in a battery.

First Law of Thermodynamics

Energy can neither be created nor destroyed, only transformed from one form to another.

Second Law of Thermodynamics

The amount of useful energy decreases when energy is converted from one form to another.

Activation Energy

The initial energy input required to start a chemical reaction.

Exergonic Reactions

Reactions that release energy and increase entropy, such as burning glucose.

Endergonic Reactions

Reactions that require an input of energy and decrease entropy, such as photosynthesis.

Entropy

A measure of disorder or randomness, which increases as energy changes from useful to less useful forms.

Coupled Reactions

Reactions in which the product of an energy-yielding reaction fuels an energy-requiring reaction.