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MassachusettsBiology

Module 2: Energy in living systems

5 dot points across 5 inquiry questions. Click any dot point for a focused answer with worked past exam questions where available.

How do cells store and release energy, and why is ATP the usable energy currency of life?

Explain how cells capture, store, and release energy, the role of ATP as the cell's usable energy currency, and how energy transformations obey the conservation of energy (MA STE HS-LS1-7 supporting, energy and matter).
A standard-level answer on ATP and cellular energy for the Massachusetts High School Biology MCAS: why ATP is the usable energy currency, how it stores and releases energy, and how energy transformations conserve energy under HS-LS1.
11 min answer →

How do photosynthesis and cellular respiration move carbon between organisms and the environment, and how do cells build large molecules from sugars?

Develop a model of the role of photosynthesis and cellular respiration in cycling carbon, and explain how cells combine atoms from sugars into amino acids and other large carbon-based molecules (MA STE HS-LS1-6, HS-LS2-5).
A standard-level answer on carbon cycling and matter in organisms for the Massachusetts High School Biology MCAS: how photosynthesis and respiration move carbon, and how cells build amino acids and large molecules from sugars under HS-LS1-6 and HS-LS2-5.
11 min answer →

How do cells release the energy stored in glucose, and what is the difference between aerobic and anaerobic respiration?

Use a model to illustrate how cellular respiration breaks the bonds of glucose and oxygen to release energy as ATP, and compare aerobic respiration with anaerobic respiration and fermentation (MA STE HS-LS1-7, HS-LS2-3).
A standard-level answer on cellular respiration for the Massachusetts High School Biology MCAS: how glucose and oxygen are broken down to release energy as ATP, the reactants and products, and the difference between aerobic respiration and fermentation under HS-LS1-7.
12 min answer →

How are photosynthesis and cellular respiration related, and why do they fit together as opposite halves of an energy and matter cycle?

Compare photosynthesis and cellular respiration as linked processes, contrasting their reactants, products, energy changes, and locations, and explain how together they cycle matter and transfer energy (MA STE HS-LS1-5, HS-LS1-7, energy and matter).
A standard-level answer comparing photosynthesis and cellular respiration for the Massachusetts High School Biology MCAS: their opposite reactants and products, where each happens, the energy changes, and how they link as an energy and matter cycle.
11 min answer →

How do plants transform light energy into the chemical energy stored in sugars, and what raw materials and products are involved?

Use a model to illustrate how photosynthesis transforms light energy into stored chemical energy in sugars, including the reactants, products, and the role of chlorophyll (MA STE HS-LS1-5).
A standard-level answer on photosynthesis for the Massachusetts High School Biology MCAS: how light energy becomes chemical energy in sugars, the reactants and products, the role of chlorophyll and chloroplasts, and limiting factors under HS-LS1-5.
12 min answer →