Chapter 1.2

Question 1

What are 4 key characteristics of living organisms?

Answer 1

1. complexity, with precise spatial organization on several scales
2. the ability to change in response to the environment
3. the ability to reproduce
4. the ability to evolve

Question 2

What are the 2 ways organisms can acquire energy?

Answer 2

1. from the sun

2. from chemical compounds

Question 3

What is the first law of thermodynamics?

Answer 3

The law of conservation of energy: Energy can neither be created nor destroyed – it can only be transformed from one form to another

Question 4

What is the second law of thermodynamics?

Answer 4

The principle that the transformation of energy is associated with an increase in the degree of disorder in the universe

Question 5

Define entropy

Answer 5

entropy is the degree of disorder in a system