Question

Choose a biological system or function and explain how energy is transferred, transformed, conserved and/or degraded in that system. In conclusion, provide some evidence of how your physics knowledge has increased your understanding of the biological system that you chose. If you are not a biology major or you would like to apply your physics knowledge to another science discipline, that will be acceptable as well.

Answer 1

We can choose the process of photosynthesis. In photosynthesis the solar energy is firstly absorbed by the chlorophyll and they become activated. In this stage energy transferred to chlorophyll. The activated chlorophylls release high energy electrons. The high energy electrons are carried by several electron carriers. The electron carriers ulitilise the energy to the high energy electrons. By using the energy of the high energy electron ATPs are produced. So, solar energy is now transformed into chemical energy.

The ATPs are utilised in Kelvin cycle to make glucose. This is example of degradation of energy. The energy is not actually lost. It is stored/conserved in glucose as chemical energy. When energy requires glucose will be oxidised to release the energy.

The solar energy utilised in photosynthesis is one type of light energy. Light is a type of electro magnetic wave. Light has both the property of wave and particle. Photons are the energy packets which are particles. The wavy nature of light helps it to travel without any medium.