Multiple Choice
Which of the following statements describes the first law of thermodynamics?
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7. Energy and Metabolism
Laws of Thermodynamics
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Which of the following states the relevance of the first law of thermodynamics to biology?
A
Because living things consume energy, the total energy of the universe is constantly decreasing.
B
Photosynthetic organisms produce energy in sugars from sunlight.
C
Energy is destroyed as glucose is broken down during cellular respiration.
D
Living organisms must increase the entropy of their surroundings.
E
Energy can be freely transformed among different forms as long as the total energy is conserved.
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand the first law of thermodynamics, which states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed from one form to another. This is crucial in biological processes.
Consider how this law applies to biological systems: energy transformations occur constantly, such as in photosynthesis and cellular respiration, without any net loss or gain in total energy.
Photosynthesis is a process where light energy is converted into chemical energy stored in glucose. This transformation adheres to the first law, as energy is not created but converted.
Cellular respiration involves breaking down glucose to release energy for cellular activities. Again, energy is transformed from chemical energy in glucose to usable energy in ATP, conserving total energy.
Recognize that living organisms interact with their environment, often increasing entropy, but the total energy remains constant, aligning with the first law of thermodynamics.
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