Energy & Matter
What is matter? What two properties does it have?
Matter is anything that has mass and takes up space.
What gas do plants take in during photosynthesis?
Carbon dioxide (CO₂).
What type of organism gets energy by eating plants or other animals?
Consumer.
What is one way carbon returns to the atmosphere?
Through respiration or the burning of fossil fuels.
What type of molecules provide energy for cells?
Carbohydrates (like glucose).
Why do living things need matter?
They use matter to build body structures and carry out life processes.
What are the products of photosynthesis, and why are they important?
Glucose and oxygen; glucose provides energy, and oxygen is needed by most living things to survive.
What is the main difference between a primary and secondary consumer?
A primary consumer eats producers; a secondary consumer eats other consumers.
How does carbon move from plants to animals?
Animals eat plants, transferring carbon stored in plant tissues.
What type of molecule is used to build and repair body tissues?
Proteins.
What is a producer, and how does it obtain energy?
A producer is an organism that makes its own food through photosynthesis, using sunlight.
What process do cells use to break down glucose for energy?
Cellular respiration.
How does energy decrease as it moves through a food chain?
Energy is lost as heat at each level, so there’s less energy available to higher-level consumers.
What role do decomposers play in the carbon cycle?
They break down dead organisms, releasing carbon back into the air or soil.
Why are decomposers important for soil quality?
They return nutrients to the soil that plants need to grow.
What would happen if decomposers were removed from an ecosystem?
Dead organisms would pile up and nutrients wouldn’t be recycled back into the environment.
Why is cellular respiration important for animals?
It allows cells to release energy from food to power body functions.
What happens to the energy stored in an organism when it dies?
Decomposers break it down and release some energy as heat, returning nutrients to the soil.
How are fossil fuels formed?
From the remains of plants and animals that were buried and exposed to heat and pressure over millions of years.
Why do cells need to release energy during cellular respiration?
To carry out all life processes like movement, growth, and repair.
How does energy move through a food chain, starting with the Sun?
Energy flows from the Sun to producers, then to consumers as they eat plants or other animals.
How do mitochondria contribute to cellular respiration?
Mitochondria are the organelles where cellular respiration takes place, producing ATP (energy).
Why do top predators have the least energy available to them?
Because energy decreases at each level, leaving very little by the time it reaches the top.
Why does burning fossil fuels increase carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere?
Because it releases stored carbon into the air in the form of CO₂.
Why is oxygen essential for cellular respiration?
Oxygen is needed to help break down glucose and release energy efficiently.