Question

Using only information in the passage above, explain how the process of a rabbit eating plants and eventually decaying demonstrates the Laws of Conservation of Matter and Energy. Include specific examples from the passage above that show how matter/energy is conserved (reused/recycled).

Key words to include: photosynthesis, cellular respiration, matter, energy, sunlight, carbon dioxide, oxygen, glucose,

Sentence starters:

The process of photosynthesis shows that matter and energy is conserved because...
The process of cellular respiration shows that matter and energy is conserved because...

Answer 1

The process of photosynthesis shows that matter and energy is conserved because it converts sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water into glucose and oxygen. During this process, the energy from sunlight is captured and stored in the chemical bonds of glucose, which is a form of matter. This illustrates the conservation of energy as it transforms light energy from the sun into chemical energy stored in a plant's structure.

The process of cellular respiration shows that matter and energy is conserved because it involves the breakdown of glucose and oxygen to release energy for the plant’s growth and maintenance. In this process, the glucose and oxygen used are transformed into carbon dioxide and water, which can be utilized again in photosynthesis by plants. This recycling of matter illustrates the Law of Conservation of Matter, as the molecules are neither created nor destroyed but rather transformed into different forms. Thus, both processes demonstrate how matter and energy are continuously reused and recycled in the ecosystem, ultimately highlighting the interconnectedness of life processes.