Question

A marine scientist measures the energy found in a system consisting of seagrass and sunlight. After the seagrass grows for one week, the marine scientist concluded that radiant energy from the sunlight was transformed to chemical energy in the seagrass. Does this result validate or invalidate the Law of Conservation of Energy? (3 points)

Answer 1

Answer:

Validate

Change of one form of energy into other can occur according to the law of conservation of energy.

Explanation:

According to the law of conservation of energy, energy can not be created or destroyed. However, one energy form can be transformed into another form. These energy transformations also occur in ecosystems.  

In the given example, the solar energy from the Sun was used by seagrass to perform the process of photosynthesis.

During the process, the energy from sunlight was converted into the chemical energy of organic nutrients (glucose). Part of these nutrients is used by seagrass as an energy source while rest is stored in its tissues. The transformation of radiant energy from the Sun into the chemical energy of nutrients present in seagrass follows the law of conversation of energy.