Gizmos Student Exploration: Cell Energy Cycle

Student Exploration: Cell Energy Cycle
Vocabulary: aerobic, anaerobic, ATP, cellular respiration, chemical energy, chlorophyll,
chloroplast, cytoplasm, glucose, glycolysis, mitochondria, photosynthesis, radiant energy
Prior Knowledge Questions (Do these BEFORE using the Gizmo.)
1. What does a plant need to survive and grow? ____________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
2. What does an animal need to survive and grow? _________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
3. How do animals and plants depend on each other? _______________________________
________________________________________________________________________ Gizmo Warm-up
The Cell Energy Cycle Gizmo™ illustrates two
processes that are essential to life: photosynthesis
and cellular respiration. Although both of these processes involve a series of
complex steps, the inputs and outputs of each process
are four relatively simple molecules.
1. What is the chemical formula of oxygen?
O2_______
2. Glucose is a simple sugar. What is the chemical
formula of glucose?
C6H12O6_________________________
3. What is the chemical formula of carbon dioxide? CO2_______
1/15/24, 5:55 AM Cell Energy Gizmo - idk
about:blank 2/11
4. What is the chemical formula of water? H2O_______
Activity A:
Photosynthesis
Get the Gizmo ready:  If necessary, click Reset.  Check that the PHOTOSYNTHESIS tab is
selected. Check that Description is turned on.
Introduction: Photosynthesis occurs in the chloroplast, an organelle found in plant and algae
cells. Within the chloroplast, a green pigment called chlorophyll converts the radiant energy of
sunlight into chemical energy that the plant can use.
Question: What are the inputs and outputs of photosynthesis?
1. Predict : Of the molecules shown on the MOLECULES pane, which do you think are inputs
(ingredients) in photosynthesis? Which do you think are outputs?
Inputs: sunlight and H2O_ Outputs: __O2____________________
2. Explore : Drag each molecule from the MOLECULES pane to the chloroplast on the
PHOTOSYNTHESIS pane. If a molecule is an input, it will stay in the chloroplast.
Which molecules are inputs in photosynthesis? _the inputs of photosynthesis are H2O, CO2 and sunlight or lightenergy
3. Observe : Click Add light and look at the Output. What are the outputs of photosynthesis?
The out puts of photosynthesis are O2 and C6H12O6_____________
4. Summarize : Although photosynthesis is a complex process involving many reactions, it can
be summarized by a simplified formula that shows inputs on the left and outputs on the right.
Based on your observations, write a simplified formula for photosynthesis:
Oxygen O2__ + _glucose C6H12O6___  _sunlight____ + _water H2O_________
Turn on Show input/output formula to check. Were you correct? Carbon Dioxide CO2 _
5. Challenge: To balance the inputs and outputs of photosynthesis, there should be the same
number of carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen atoms on each side of the arrow. A. Is the formula balanced as written? Why or why not? No because there should be an
equal amount of the inputs and outputs and outputs atoms