Life Abounds
Photosynthesis
http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/projects/astrobiology/astroventure/index.html
Today’s Objectives
By the end of today, you will be able to:
• recognize that all consumers directly or
indirectly eat green plants.
• explain the process of photosynthesis
Interactive Clip/Movie Clip
• NOVA Clip—Illuminating Photosynthesis
– http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/methuselah/phot_flash.html
• Newton’s Apple Clip
– http://www.newtonsapple.tv/video.php?id=915
Lesson 5—Photosynthesis
• What do plants need for photosynthesis???
– Sunlight
– Carbon Dioxide
– Chlorophyll/Chloroplasts
– Water
Clipart
Lesson 5—Photosynthesis
• SUNLIGHT and Chlorophyll
– Absorbed by the chlorophyll in the leaves of plants
– Chlorophyll interacts with sunlight to split the
water in the plant into its basic components
– Provides energy that drives photosynthesis
– Artificial light can be used to drive process as well
Clipart
Lesson 5—Photosynthesis
• WATER
– Transported through plants in tubes called xylem
– CO2 combines with water in chloroplasts to begin
synthesis (making of) sugars
– Water is split into its hydrogen and oxygen parts,
and oxygen is released
Clipart
Lesson 5—Photosynthesis
• CARBON DIOXIDE
– Co-dependency between plants and animals!
– Carbon Dioxide enters the leaves through stomata
– Plants take in CO2 and release O2
– Plants will also release water through the process
of transpiration
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