BI110 Final: BI 110 - Final
Document Summary
Using light for both energy and information. Optimal distance from the sun: enables us to use suns energy. Potential energy: energy stored as atp can be used. The shorter the wave lengths - higher energy. The longer the wave lengths - lower energy. Electromagnetic radiation that humans can detect with their eyes. Travels in waves - made of photons. Wavelengths can be reflected, transmitted or absorbed. Conjugated system: alternating double/single carbon bonds, delocalization of electrons. Not tightly held between one atom to the next. More available of absorbing photons of light. Colour is the result of wavelengths of light that are not absorbed by a pigment. Able to absorb red light: must exactly match the difference of energy between the ground state and the next highest energy state. Red has a longer wavelength: uses less energy. Contain a pigment proton complex - bacteriorhodopsin. Captures photons of light that provide the energy supply needed to pump protons out of the cell.
