5E_Energy+Topical+Essential+Questions

Topical Essential Question: 1. What is the relationship between energy and matter? Energy can be used to transform matter. Matter can store energy. (eg. ATP. High energy bond.) Energy is also related to the state of matter. For example, gas molecules have more energy than liquid molecules, and for a liquid to be transformed into a gas, it has to be heated (heat energy!) (A google search brought up quantum physics. e=mc^2 shows the relationship between energy and mass. Einstein says that only the TOTAL amount of energy and mass is constant, can change matter to energy and energy to matter, provided an appropriate exchange is made. Theory of Relativity.) Fangda: energy is used by matter to carry out processes

2. How is energy significant to biological system? Energy is required for metabolic processes (to carry out life processes). Without it, we would not be able to survive (would we still be called living things?) The need for energy seems to form the basis of many of the things living things do, such as eating, drinking, and respiration.

3. Can an organism survive without the exchange of matter within its environment? No.

4. Are all matters living and and all living organisms made of matter? Not all matters are living (for example, a rubber ball is matter as it occupies space and possesses mass, but it is not a living things as it does not respire, reproduce etc.) All living organisms are made of matter, as they all possess mass and occupy space.

5. Can living organisms create and destroy energy? Energy cannot be created, nor destroyed. It can only be transformed.

6. Can living organisms create and destroy matter? Matter cannot be destroyed nor created. You can break it down into tiny, miniscule bits, like quarks, protons, electrons etc., and change its state. The total number of atoms in the universe doesn't change.


 * Photosynthesis || Respiration ||
 * molecules are build up : anabolism (simple -> complex) || molecules are broken down: catabolism (complex -> simple) ||
 * requires energy (from sunlight) || releases energy (source: photosynthesis) ||
 * products: Oxygen, (water), glucose (or other molecules) || products: energy, carbon dioxide, water ||

Unit Essential Questions: 1. Why do we need to respire? To survive 2. Do the structure and organization of the living system change when energy is released from them? ATP is changed to ADP after releasing energy. 3. How are respiratory systems of animals organized efficiently to carry out its functions? 4. Can there be any metabolisms without enzymes? No. It speeds up; catalyzes reactions. Lower the activation energy of the matter/molecules/atom, and hence is able to speed up the reaction.

Enduring Understandings: 1. Living organisms release energy within the biological molecule into forms they can use to carry out life processes. 2. Process of the release of energy is affected by external environment. 3. The structure and organization of the respiratory system is dictated by the function that it serves. 4. Metabolic pathway is a sequence of enzyme-controlled reactions.

related topics: conservation of matter, thermal dynamic laws. Kinetic particle theory.