Analogy - cellular respiration and photosynthesis...

[biology12]

An analogy can be made between the molecule glucose and a compressed spring. The process of photosynthesis makes glucose. Releasing the spring is like cellular respiration. Explain the analogy. Think you could help me out...Thank You in advance..

[mith]

Think of it less as a spring and more of the state of the spring. When it's coiled it has energy and when it's not held in coils it can release energy(the bounce).

[biostudent84]

Oooh! Took a bit of thinking.

Glucose (C6H12O6) is one molecule...when it goes through cellular respiration it "expands" into two molecules (HOH and CO2). Photosynthesis "compresses" the two molecules back into Glucose.

Kosher?

P.S. HOH is the Chemi-Politically Correct way for saying H2O. RobJim could tell you more about why...I forgot the wording to properly explain it. When I got bored of chemistry and switched to biology, I forgot the little things like that.

Kyle

[2810712]

expand???
glucose breaks into those, still its good I think.
hrushikesh

[biostudent84]

"Breaks into those" is the best term for what glucose does...but "expand" fits the analogy...

[biology12]

thank you all again for your advice......helped finish the question.

[Miko]

Hello, is there another analogy aside from the spring that can help one understand the difference between photosynthesis and cellular respiration. How would you explain this to a first or second grader.

[biostudent84]

[quote="Miko"]Hello, is there another analogy aside from the spring that can help one understand the difference between photosynthesis and cellular respiration. How would you explain this to a first or second grader.[/quote

When I was in second grade, I was just told that plants breathe in carbon dioxide (what we breathe out), and breathe out oxygen (what we breathe in). They eat water.

[Poison]

a very good way of explaining.