BIOL 1013 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Carbon Fixation, Radiant Energy, Electromagnetic Spectrum
Biology ch.5
❏Driving questions
❏What are the photosynthetic organisms on the planet, and why are they so
important?
❏What are the different types of energy and what transformations of energy do
organisms carry out?
❏How do plants and algae convert the energy in sunlight into energy-rich organic
molecules? (And why can’t humans do this?)
❏How do algal biofuels compare to other fuels in terms of cost, benefits, and
sustainability?
❏Using algae to make fuel
❏Algae are best known for the green, red, or brown hues
❏Also have ability to capture energy of sunlight and convert it into usable forms of
energy
❏Much is in the form of oils ideally suited to making fuel
❏Fossil fuels are limited
❏Demand for oil will increase over next 25 years
❏Sources of oil are finite
❏Takes millions of years to replenish
❏US energy consumption
❏The United States is the largest consumer of fossil fuels
❏New energy sources being developed to reduce our demand
❏Biofuels
❏Renewable fuels made from living organisms
❏In 2012, more than 150 companies were dedicated to making fuel from algae
❏Energy basics
❏Energy
❏Capacity to do work
❏Includes processes such as building complex molecules and moving
substances in and out of the cells
❏Without a source of energy, all life on earth would stop
❏Energy cannot be created
❏Humans and other animals obtain energy by eating food
❏Chemical energy
❏Potential energy stored in bonds of biological molecules
❏Break bonds to release stored energy to do work
❏Algae and plants get energy from the sun
❏Trap energy and store it in molecules
❏Biofuel produces high in chemical energy
❏Energy is conserved
❏Energy cannot be created or destroyed
❏Energy can change form
❏Conservation of energy
find more resources at oneclass.com
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Document Summary
How do plants and algae convert the energy in sunlight into energy-rich organic molecules? (and why can"t humans do this?) Algae are best known for the green, red, or brown hues. Also have ability to capture energy of sunlight and convert it into usable forms of energy. Much is in the form of oils ideally suited to making fuel. Demand for oil will increase over next 25 years. The united states is the largest consumer of fossil fuels. New energy sources being developed to reduce our demand. In 2012, more than 150 companies were dedicated to making fuel from algae. Includes processes such as building complex molecules and moving substances in and out of the cells. Without a source of energy, all life on earth would stop. Humans and other animals obtain energy by eating food. Potential energy stored in bonds of biological molecules. Break bonds to release stored energy to do work.
