Name:

Student Exploration: Cell Energy Cycle

Directions: Follow the instructions to go through the simulation. Respond to the questions and
prompts in the orange boxes.

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? Water and Oxygen

2.​ What does an animal need to survive and grow? the energy/oxygen of the plants

3.​ How do animals and plants depend on each other? Because animals bring water and plants give oxygen

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,

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

4.​ What is the chemical formula of water?

H2O

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 Get the Gizmo ready:
Activity A:
●​ If necessary, click Reset.
Photosynthesis ●​ 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: CO2 and H2O Outputs: O2 and C6H12O6

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? Water and Carbon

3.​ Observe: Click Add light and look at the Output. What are the outputs of photosynthesis?

Oxygen and Glucose.

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:

+ CO2 --> O2 + C6H12O6

Turn on Show input/output formula to check. Were you correct? Yes

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 it’s not balanced, because there aren’t the same amount in each formula.

B.​ Now balance the input/output formula by adding coefficients to each molecule. Write the balanced
formula below, and then check your work by clicking Balance.

6 H20 + 6 CO2 --> 6 O2 + C6H12O6

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 Activity B: Get the Gizmo ready:
Cellular ●​ Click Reset.
respiration ●​ Select the RESPIRATION tab.

Introduction: Cellular respiration occurs in the cytoplasm of the cell and in mitochondria, organelles found
in all complex cells. (Bacteria and other simple organisms do not contain mitochondria.) The Gizmo shows a
mitochondria surrounded by yellow cytoplasm.

Question: What are the inputs and outputs of cellular respiration?

1.​ Predict: Of the molecules shown on the MOLECULES pane, which do you think are inputs (ingredients) in
cellular respiration? Which do you think are outputs?
2.​
Inputs: O2 C6H12O6 Outputs: CO2 H2O

3.​ Explore: Drag each molecule from the MOLECULES pane to the RESPIRATION pane.

Which molecules are inputs in cellular respiration?

4.​ Observe: Click Next. What happens in the cytoplasm?

glucose splits into 2 pyruvates and a small amount of energy

This process is called glycolysis. Two pyruvate (C3H3O3–) molecules are produced in glycolysis. The
released energy is used to form a net of two ATP (adenosine triphosphate) molecules. Energy is later
released when ATP molecules are broken down.

5.​ Observe: Click Next. What happens now?

The two glycolysis come back next to the O2

6.​ Observe: Click Next. What happens in the mitochondrion?

The Pyruvate is broken down and energy is produced. Then carbon and water are
released

Energy from the mitochondrion is also stored in the form of ATP. A net of 30 ATP molecules are produced
for every two molecules of pyruvate.

7.​ Analyze: Cellular respiration involves two phases. The anaerobic phase does not involve oxygen, while the
aerobic phase does. Where does each phase take place?

Anaerobic:Cytoplasm

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 Aerobic:mitochondria Reproduction for educational use only. Public sharing or posting prohibited. © 2020 ExploreLearning™ All rights
reserved
​
8.​ Summarize: Based on what you have seen, write a simplified formula for cellular respiration.

C6H12O6 + O2 CO2 + H2O

Turn on Show input/output formula to check. Were you correct? Yes

6.​ Challenge: To balance the inputs and outputs of cellular respiration, 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?

B.​ Now balance the input/output formula by adding coefficients to each molecule. Write the balanced
formula below, and then check your work by clicking Balance.

+ --> +

9.​ Compare: The aerobic phase of cellular respiration in the mitochondria produces a net of about 28 to 30
ATP molecules. How does this compare to the energy released in glycolysis (2 ATP) ?

It is a whole lot less

(Note: Some textbooks state that up to 36 ATP molecules are produced in this phase of cellular respiration.
In reality, some energy is lost in the process due to the cost of transporting molecules and imperfect
membranes.)

10.​Extend your thinking: When you think of the word “respiration,” you might think about the process of
breathing, which is actually called ventilation. (The respiratory system consists of the windpipe, lungs, etc.)

How is breathing related to cellular respiration? (Hint: Think about both the inputs and the outputs of
cellular respiration.)

Because both breath oxygen

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 Activity C:
Get the Gizmo ready:
The
●​ Click Reset.
carbon-oxygen
●​ Select the CYCLE tab.
cycle

Question: How is photosynthesis related to cellular respiration?

1.​ Form a hypothesis: How do you think photosynthesis is related to cellular respiration?

Because they both have the same formulas, and they both go in a circle.

2.​ Predict: Look at the red arrows, and think about the photosynthesis and respiration processes. Each red
arrow connects a set of inputs to the outputs of the reaction.

A.​ Which molecules would you expect to find at the top of the diagram? Explain.

Glucose and Oxygen will be on the top of the diagram because that's where the
photosynthesis arrow is going.

B.​ Which molecules would you expect to find at the bottom of the diagram? Explain.

Water and Carbon would be in the bottom because it’s the opposite of
photosynthesis

3.​ Observe: Drag the Oxygen, Glucose, Carbon dioxide, and Water into the CYCLE pane.

A. Which substances are inputs in photosynthesis? Glucose and Oxygen

B. Which substances are outputs of photosynthesis? Water Carbon Dioxide

C. Which substances are inputs in respiration? Glucose Oxygen

D. Which substances are outputs of respiration? Water Carbon

4.​ Compare: How are the inputs and outputs of photosynthesis and respiration related to one another?

Both of the outputs have water.

5.​ Review: In photosynthesis and respiration, energy is converted from one form to another. Light is a form of
radiant energy. Glucose and ATP molecules store chemical energy.

A.​ During photosynthesis, what role is played by the radiant energy of the Sun? Explain your answer.

The sun is the source of photosynthesis.

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 B.​ In photosynthesis, what form of energy is sunlight converted to, and how is this energy stored?

The sunlight is converted into light, which feeds the plants which creates oxygen.

C.​ Does cellular respiration result in a net input of energy or a net output of energy? Explain.

Output because it goes out.

D.​ How is the energy produced by respiration stored?

ATP

6.​ Summarize: How are respiration and photosynthesis related to each other?

They both produce energy and light (ATP)

7.​ Think and discuss: In what ways are plants and animals dependent on each other?

They both depend on each other like, animals make water, when the plants bring the
animals oxygen.

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