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Energy flowing through a system has to come from somewhere and has to go somewhere because there are two laws of Physics that apply.

  1. Energy can nether be created nor destroyed only changed - transformed.
  2. Any time you make an energy transformation, some of the starting energy is going to be lost as heat.

In the Biosphere the source of energy is the Sun, sunlight. This is trapped and stored by plants (producers). As plants use this energy to live and grow, they give of heat (as per law 2) so the Sun's energy is transformed.

Then along come animals that eat plants and steal the plant's food stores, these animals have to be more active than plants so, as they live and move, these too give of heat. More of the Sun's original energy is lost (as per law 2).

The plant eaters are then predated by carnivores, the carnivores steal the herbivore's food stores and use it to live and move and these too give off heat. More of the Sun's original energy is lost (as per law 2).

Thus you can see that the process of life can be looked at as a flow of energy from organism to organism with this energy gradually being lost (into space) as heat. High quality energy (visible light) straight from the Sun is transformed into low quality energy (heat) by living things.

The second law means that you can not turn low quality energy into high quality energy and this make the path of energy transformation uni-directional.

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How does the energy enter the biosphere?

Energy enters the biosphere primarily through sunlight, which is captured by plants during photosynthesis. This energy is then transferred through the food chain as organisms consume each other. Additionally, some energy enters the biosphere through geothermal sources.


How can Compare the movement of energy in the biosphere with the movement of matter through biosphere?

Energy in the biosphere flows through a one-way system, entering as sunlight and being converted into chemical energy through photosynthesis. This energy is then transferred through the food chain as organisms consume each other. In contrast, matter in the biosphere cycles through biogeochemical processes, such as the carbon and nitrogen cycles, where elements are taken up by organisms, recycled, and reused in the ecosystem.


Is flow of energy in the biosphere one way.?

Ecological


What are the scientific explanations for how matter cycles and energy flows through the biosphere?

Matter cycles through the biosphere primarily through biogeochemical cycles, such as the carbon, nitrogen, and water cycles, where elements are reused and transformed by biological, geological, and chemical processes. Energy flows through ecosystems in a linear pathway, starting from the sun, which is captured by primary producers through photosynthesis and then transferred to consumers and decomposers in food webs. This energy flow diminishes at each trophic level due to metabolic processes, with energy lost as heat. Ultimately, while matter is recycled, energy is constantly inputted from external sources and dissipated.


True or false In the biosphere there is a one way flow of energy?

False. In the biosphere, there is a continuous cycle of energy flow. Energy from the sun is captured by plants through photosynthesis, then transferred to herbivores, carnivores, and decomposers in a complex web of energy exchanges. This flow of energy is not one-way, but rather a continuous loop within ecosystems.

Related Questions

How does water pass through the biosphere?

Water circulation in biosphere is called water cycle , pathway is sea , atmosphere , rain , soil , plants , animals , decomposres and soil


In what form does energy leave the biosphere?

In what form does energy leave the biosphere?


How does the energy enter the biosphere?

Energy enters the biosphere primarily through sunlight, which is captured by plants during photosynthesis. This energy is then transferred through the food chain as organisms consume each other. Additionally, some energy enters the biosphere through geothermal sources.


Only energy pathway that can burn carbs fat and protein?

Aerobic Energy Pathway


Efficiency of a respiration pathway refers to the?

Efficiency of a respiration pathway refers to the amount of energy produced by the pathway relative to the amount of energy input. A highly efficient pathway will produce more ATP (energy) per unit of substrate consumed, resulting in greater energy yield for the organism.


What makes an energy source traditional?

Biosphere


What is the main source of energy for the biosphere?

The sun.


The flow of energy in the biosphere is continually decreasing True or False?

False. The flow of energy in the biosphere is constant and not continually decreasing. Energy enters the biosphere in the form of sunlight and is continuously cycled through ecosystems via processes like photosynthesis and respiration.


Which process brings energy to the biosphere?

Respiration supplies energy for organisms on Earth. Respiration can either be photosynthesis in plants and fungi or cellular respiration in animals.


What is the source of energy of biosphere?

The primary source of energy for the biosphere is the sun. Solar energy is captured by plants through photosynthesis, which is then passed on through the food chain to other living organisms. This process fuels life on Earth and drives the biological processes within the biosphere.


How is energy transferred in the biosphere?

Energy in the biosphere is transferred through food chains and food webs. Producers, such as plants, capture energy from the sun through photosynthesis. This energy is then passed on to consumers as they eat other organisms.


How can Compare the movement of energy in the biosphere with the movement of matter through biosphere?

Energy in the biosphere flows through a one-way system, entering as sunlight and being converted into chemical energy through photosynthesis. This energy is then transferred through the food chain as organisms consume each other. In contrast, matter in the biosphere cycles through biogeochemical processes, such as the carbon and nitrogen cycles, where elements are taken up by organisms, recycled, and reused in the ecosystem.