Scenario 1:
Elevator 1
Elevator 2
1.
You are waiting in line for an elevator at your hotel after a day when you’re exhausted from traveling.
You’re carrying 3 bags of luggage and the elevators above arrive at the exact same time to the lobby.
The circles represent people. Logically, which elevator would you choose to get on? Why?
2.
If you broke down the wall and the 2 elevators formed just one, what would the people in elevator 1
do?
Scenario 2:
Now you’re getting on a train to travel on 4 hour train ride.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
3.
The
symbol means that the seat is already taken. If you got on the train and all the rows were
exactly the same (same # seats, same amenities, same leg room, etc…) logically, which row would you
choose to sit in? Explain why.
4.
How is this problem scenario similar to the first scenario?
5.
If you sprayed a bottle of perfume in the front of a classroom, what would happen?
6.
How is the example of the perfume similar to scenario 1 and 2?
The relationship that you should have seen in these 3 examples (elevator, train, and perfume) is that it is
more comfortable for us to spread out. When we are waiting for an elevator, we would rather take one that is
less crowded (what if you get stuck?!?), when we are getting on a train/bus we usually look to find an empty
row, and when you spray perfume the perfume particles want to spread out.
7.
What does the word “active” mean? Write a definition in your own words.
8.
What does the word “passive” mean? Write a definition in your own words.
9.
Under which of these words (active or passive) would you put the word “energy?”
10. Under which of these words (active or passive) would you put the words “go with the flow?”
Information Section 1: This relationship of wanting to spread out is an analogy to passive transport.
Passive transport requires no energy and molecules want to move from an area of high concentration
(crowded) to an area of low concentration (less crowded) There are 3 types of passive transport: diffusion,
facilitated diffusion, and osmosis. Diffusion - the process by which molecules spread from areas of high
concentration, to areas of low concentration. When the molecules are even throughout a space - it is called
equilibrium.
Using this information and the picture below, answer the following questions:
11. Looking at the picture above, which direction would the particles (represented by the small circles)
want to move? Draw a similar picture on your answer sheet and draw an arrow to indicate which
way the dots would want to move.
12. Draw a picture of what this would look like after a small amount of time, and then what would
happen after a long time?
13. What part of the cell do the particles have to move through in order to get from one side to the other?
14. If you put a raisin into a cup of water overnight, what do you think would happen? Explain what
would happen by drawing a picture similar to the one above.
Information section 2:
Osmosis is the diffusion of water where water flows from an area of high concentration to an area of low
concentration. Osmosis can occur in all different types of cells where water flows across a selectively
permeable membrane – red blood cells in humans are one of the best examples when patients receive IV
fluids.
Hypertonic = less water outside so water leaves the cell and it shrinks
Hypotonic = more water outside so water goes into the cell and it swells
Isotonic = an equal amount of water inside and outside the cell; water flows in both directions
Answer questions 15-? using the diagrams below of cell A, cell B, and cell C:
A
90% water
10% salt
Outside: 100% water
B
C
90% water
10% salt
90% water
10% salt
Outside: 90% water
10% salt
Outside: 50% water
50% salt
15. In cell A, where is there a higher concentration (amount) of water molecules (inside or outside the
cell)?
16. Based on the elevator, and train analogies & information section 2 – where would the water want to
move?
17. What do you think would happen to the cell as a result of this?
18. In cell B, compare the concentrations of water and salt inside and outside the cell?
19. What do you think will happen to cell B as a result?
20. In cell C, where is there a higher concentration (amount) of water molecules (inside or outside the
cell)?
21. Based on the elevator, and train analogies & information section 2 – where would the water want to
move?
22. What do you think would happen to the cell as a result of this?