Energy Lab

Energy Lab. 

1.       In my model, energy is represented by coins.

2.       Trophic levels are represented by coins.

3.       Write a step-by-step description of your procedure for running the energy flow model. Give some detail in at least five steps.

-The first trophic level has 100 coins.

-Next, I transferred 10% of the energy from the 100 coins. The results of the transfer in the next trophic level left only 10 coins.

-I again transferred 10% of the energy of 10 coins. The results of that transfer in the next trophic level left only 1 coin.

With another with 10% of the energy transfer of 1 coin there is only 0.1 left of the coin in the fourth level. (At this point I couldn’t divide the coin into tenths)

-With this process we would never really run out of the coin mathematically speaking but we would never be able to probably see something so visually small unless we had a microscope.

4.       Provide a diagram of your energy flow model complete with the numbers you calculated showing what percentage of high quality “energy” makes it to the next level. Try using Word with text boxes and symbols or a PowerPoint slide or another drawing tool. You can also hand draw and scan. Then attach separately or include in this document. If you use a reference (even your textbook), it must be cited in MLA format; see guidelines here. Also easily found on the YC Library page under Cite Guides.  SEE PHOTO BELOW

5.       Provide an example of a calculation you performed to determine the amount of high quality “energy” lost between trophic levels in your model.  The calculation was 10% of each level of energy. 10% x 100 = 10 / 10% x 10= 1 / 10% x 1 =.1

6.       What is high quality energy? High quality energy is organized and concentrated energy used to perform a task. An example of high quality energy is electricity because it is a high quality form of energy. Electricity can be converted to mechanical energy, thermal energy, and electromagnetic energy (radio broadcast) with little loss of energy while changing form.

7.       Why does only a small percentage of high quality energy make it from one level to the next? Because every level it’s transferred to it becomes less energized.  Just like any break in an electrical wire, it loses more power on each cut.

8.       What happens to the high quality energy if energy is neither created nor destroyed? I would imagine that it doesn’t change. Because nothing is being used. Just like the bowl of coins, If I don’t transfer the energy then they don’t move.

9.       Give a specific name of an organism potentially represented by each energy level.

Level 1 (most high-quality energy)        Producers (plants)

Level 2                                                                 Primary Consumers (herbivores)

Level 3                                                                 Secondary Consumers (carnivores)

Level 4                                                                 Tertiary Consumers (top carnivores)

10.   Could one run out of high quality energy for "levels?” Why or why not? Not mathematically no, because according to my example, 10% of something (energy or a coin) will always be 10% of the starting amount.

11.   In terms of interacting with energy in a sustainable way, why is understanding this is important? This is important because If we use sustainable energy the quality and amount goes down making it harder to survive.