1/26/11 Photosynthesis vs Cellular Respiration

Today we satrted out class by Mr. Finley coming around to check homework. We then discussed the formula for photosynthesis and cellular respiration. (Cellular respiration- C6H12O6---> 6CO2+6H2O+ATP) (Photosynthesis- 6CO2+6H2O+light energy----> C6H12O6+6O2)

We then said that the formulas were backwards. The Reactants and the products are reversed. The purpose of photosynthesis was to make glucose and the purpose of cellular respiration was to break down glucose to make energy. Since the process is reversed the equations must be reversed. We took a survey to determine that plants do go through respiration. Plants need energy so they must go through respiration. Plants dont just give off oxygen. We cant live in a world where there are only lions and us. They eat us and we eat them. If there were no plants there would be no glucose and no ATP (energy) so we cant move and function without it. Then we discussed a triangle of an energy chain. It went with Plants, Primary sources, Secondary consumers, and then Tertiary consumers from bottom to top(more energy to less energy) The tertiary consumers would have to eat more plants to be at a high energy level. Photosynthesis uses the light energy to make ATP. Plants use ATP to do everything they do and they use light energy to make glucose. We then related this to our excersise experiment. As a result of doing the excersise our CO2 rate went up and cellular respiration happened. We needed more energy (cellular respiration) so that is why CO2 levels went up. You warm because your body needs to get ready for the excersise. you have to tell yourself to start respiration and give you energy. Todays class seemed to give us a better understanding of photosynthesis vs cellular respiration.

PH