Photosynthesis

How organisms make energy

 Life on Earth
• During the early days, Earth
had extreme temperatures
and no oceans – not an
environment living things can
survive in
• Eventually a layer of oxygen
formed the ozone protecting
the Earth from harmful UV
radiation
• Water started collecting to
form the oceans
 Greenhouse effect
• The ozone trapped in carbon dioxide and
other gases
• At the same time oceans absorbed some
of the carbon dioxide
• This lead to the greenhouse effect which
is what gives our planet a temperature
where living things can exist (not be
destroyed by solar radiation or extreme
cold)
• greenhouse effect and global warming
 Rise in temperatures
• The greenhouse effect is necessary
for life to exist, but the increase in
carbon dioxide from fossil fuels could
potentially lead to serious problems.
• Fluctuations in Earth’s temperature
happen naturally, but scientists are
concerned about the effect humans
are having.
 First half of the Carbon AND
Oxygen cycle
• Carbon dioxide is
taken out of our
atmosphere 2 ways:
– Absorbed by the
ocean (and used in
photosynthesis of
ocean “plants”)
– Absorbed by plants
on land to be used in
photosynthesis
 Producers
• Take what they need to live :
matter and energy – from non-
living things (CO2 + H2O)
• Use solar energy to make
usable chemical energy needed
for life: Carbohydrates.
• Use matter – like nitrogen and
water from the soil – to use in
chemical reactions to make
building blocks it needs.
All Producers have
Chloroplasts

•Organelle (cell
part) where
photosynthesis
takes place

•Contain
chlorophyll:
pigments that give
chloroplasts green
color
Pigments • Sunlight is a form of
electromagnetic energy
• Travels in waves
• Wavelength- distance
between two waves
• Pigments- chemical
compounds that affect
the color of a substance
• Pigments either absorb,
transmit, or reflect
wavelengths of light
• Pigments in chloroplasts
(chlorophylls) absorb
blue-violet and red-
orange light, green light
bounces back or passes
through
Two Step Process
• Photosynthesis
occurs in two steps:
– Light Dependent
Reaction
• Needs sunlight
– Light Independent
Reaction
• Calvin Cycle
• Does not need
sunlight
Photosynthesis