Considering the sec ond law of thermodynamics , would you cxpect the typical biomass of primary producers in an ecosystem to be greater than or less than the biomass of ( secondary producers in the system? Explain your reasoning.

Question

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Answer 1

Textbook Question

Chapter 55, Problem 55.1CR

Considering the second law of thermodynamics, would you cxpect the typical biomass of primary producers in an ecosystem to be greater than or less than the biomass of⁽ secondary producers in the system? Explain your reasoning.

Expert Solution & Answer

Summary Introduction

To examine: Whether the primary producers or the secondary producers would have greater or lesser biomass production in an ecosystem, considering the 2^nd law of thermodynamics.

Introduction: The second law of thermodynamics states that “no energy transfer is 100% efficient; some energy is dispersed as heat”. In a living system such as in a cell, the second law of thermodynamics states that the capture and storage or use of energy is never 100% by the living cells. The energy is lost as disordered and metabolic heat energy.

Explanation of Solution

As per the 2^nd law of thermodynamics, the useable energy decreases all the time. Only 10% of the original energy is useable for the successive trophic level, whereas 90% is lost in the form of heat. When the secondary producers or the primary consumers eat a primary producer (grass or plants), it is not all of the energy that is stored in the plant gets converted to useable energy. This is because during energy transfer, the energy is always lost due to entropy.

Therefore, it suggests that for maintaining its life functions, an organism must use much energy. The lost energy in the form of heat by an organism is no longer useable for them as well as for other organisms.

In the case of secondary producers, the biomass will always be less when compared to the primary producers because of 10% rule, and the successive energy transfer will always be less than that of the primary producers.

Conclusion

The typical biomass of the primary producers will always be greater than that of the secondary producers.

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03:16

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Answer 2

Textbook Question

Chapter 55, Problem 55.1CR

Considering the second law of thermodynamics, would you cxpect the typical biomass of primary producers in an ecosystem to be greater than or less than the biomass of⁽ secondary producers in the system? Explain your reasoning.

Expert Solution & Answer

Summary Introduction

To examine: Whether the primary producers or the secondary producers would have greater or lesser biomass production in an ecosystem, considering the 2^nd law of thermodynamics.

Introduction: The second law of thermodynamics states that “no energy transfer is 100% efficient; some energy is dispersed as heat”. In a living system such as in a cell, the second law of thermodynamics states that the capture and storage or use of energy is never 100% by the living cells. The energy is lost as disordered and metabolic heat energy.

Explanation of Solution

As per the 2^nd law of thermodynamics, the useable energy decreases all the time. Only 10% of the original energy is useable for the successive trophic level, whereas 90% is lost in the form of heat. When the secondary producers or the primary consumers eat a primary producer (grass or plants), it is not all of the energy that is stored in the plant gets converted to useable energy. This is because during energy transfer, the energy is always lost due to entropy.

Therefore, it suggests that for maintaining its life functions, an organism must use much energy. The lost energy in the form of heat by an organism is no longer useable for them as well as for other organisms.

In the case of secondary producers, the biomass will always be less when compared to the primary producers because of 10% rule, and the successive energy transfer will always be less than that of the primary producers.

Conclusion

The typical biomass of the primary producers will always be greater than that of the secondary producers.

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Subscribe now to access step-by-step solutions to millions of textbook problems written by subject matter experts!

03:16

Answer 3

Textbook Question

Chapter 55, Problem 55.1CR

Considering the second law of thermodynamics, would you cxpect the typical biomass of primary producers in an ecosystem to be greater than or less than the biomass of⁽ secondary producers in the system? Explain your reasoning.

Expert Solution & Answer

Summary Introduction

To examine: Whether the primary producers or the secondary producers would have greater or lesser biomass production in an ecosystem, considering the 2^nd law of thermodynamics.

Introduction: The second law of thermodynamics states that “no energy transfer is 100% efficient; some energy is dispersed as heat”. In a living system such as in a cell, the second law of thermodynamics states that the capture and storage or use of energy is never 100% by the living cells. The energy is lost as disordered and metabolic heat energy.

Explanation of Solution

As per the 2^nd law of thermodynamics, the useable energy decreases all the time. Only 10% of the original energy is useable for the successive trophic level, whereas 90% is lost in the form of heat. When the secondary producers or the primary consumers eat a primary producer (grass or plants), it is not all of the energy that is stored in the plant gets converted to useable energy. This is because during energy transfer, the energy is always lost due to entropy.

Therefore, it suggests that for maintaining its life functions, an organism must use much energy. The lost energy in the form of heat by an organism is no longer useable for them as well as for other organisms.

In the case of secondary producers, the biomass will always be less when compared to the primary producers because of 10% rule, and the successive energy transfer will always be less than that of the primary producers.

Conclusion

The typical biomass of the primary producers will always be greater than that of the secondary producers.

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Subscribe now to access step-by-step solutions to millions of textbook problems written by subject matter experts!

03:16

Answer 4

Textbook Question

Chapter 55, Problem 55.1CR

Considering the second law of thermodynamics, would you cxpect the typical biomass of primary producers in an ecosystem to be greater than or less than the biomass of⁽ secondary producers in the system? Explain your reasoning.

Expert Solution & Answer

Summary Introduction

To examine: Whether the primary producers or the secondary producers would have greater or lesser biomass production in an ecosystem, considering the 2^nd law of thermodynamics.

Introduction: The second law of thermodynamics states that “no energy transfer is 100% efficient; some energy is dispersed as heat”. In a living system such as in a cell, the second law of thermodynamics states that the capture and storage or use of energy is never 100% by the living cells. The energy is lost as disordered and metabolic heat energy.

Explanation of Solution

As per the 2^nd law of thermodynamics, the useable energy decreases all the time. Only 10% of the original energy is useable for the successive trophic level, whereas 90% is lost in the form of heat. When the secondary producers or the primary consumers eat a primary producer (grass or plants), it is not all of the energy that is stored in the plant gets converted to useable energy. This is because during energy transfer, the energy is always lost due to entropy.

Therefore, it suggests that for maintaining its life functions, an organism must use much energy. The lost energy in the form of heat by an organism is no longer useable for them as well as for other organisms.

In the case of secondary producers, the biomass will always be less when compared to the primary producers because of 10% rule, and the successive energy transfer will always be less than that of the primary producers.

Conclusion

The typical biomass of the primary producers will always be greater than that of the secondary producers.

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Subscribe now to access step-by-step solutions to millions of textbook problems written by subject matter experts!

03:16

Answer 5

Textbook Question

Answer 6

Textbook Question

Answer 7

Expert Solution & Answer

Summary Introduction

To examine: Whether the primary producers or the secondary producers would have greater or lesser biomass production in an ecosystem, considering the 2^nd law of thermodynamics.

Introduction: The second law of thermodynamics states that “no energy transfer is 100% efficient; some energy is dispersed as heat”. In a living system such as in a cell, the second law of thermodynamics states that the capture and storage or use of energy is never 100% by the living cells. The energy is lost as disordered and metabolic heat energy.

Explanation of Solution

As per the 2^nd law of thermodynamics, the useable energy decreases all the time. Only 10% of the original energy is useable for the successive trophic level, whereas 90% is lost in the form of heat. When the secondary producers or the primary consumers eat a primary producer (grass or plants), it is not all of the energy that is stored in the plant gets converted to useable energy. This is because during energy transfer, the energy is always lost due to entropy.

Therefore, it suggests that for maintaining its life functions, an organism must use much energy. The lost energy in the form of heat by an organism is no longer useable for them as well as for other organisms.

In the case of secondary producers, the biomass will always be less when compared to the primary producers because of 10% rule, and the successive energy transfer will always be less than that of the primary producers.

Conclusion

The typical biomass of the primary producers will always be greater than that of the secondary producers.

Answer 8

Expert Solution & Answer

Summary Introduction

To examine: Whether the primary producers or the secondary producers would have greater or lesser biomass production in an ecosystem, considering the 2^nd law of thermodynamics.

Introduction: The second law of thermodynamics states that “no energy transfer is 100% efficient; some energy is dispersed as heat”. In a living system such as in a cell, the second law of thermodynamics states that the capture and storage or use of energy is never 100% by the living cells. The energy is lost as disordered and metabolic heat energy.

Explanation of Solution

As per the 2^nd law of thermodynamics, the useable energy decreases all the time. Only 10% of the original energy is useable for the successive trophic level, whereas 90% is lost in the form of heat. When the secondary producers or the primary consumers eat a primary producer (grass or plants), it is not all of the energy that is stored in the plant gets converted to useable energy. This is because during energy transfer, the energy is always lost due to entropy.

Therefore, it suggests that for maintaining its life functions, an organism must use much energy. The lost energy in the form of heat by an organism is no longer useable for them as well as for other organisms.

In the case of secondary producers, the biomass will always be less when compared to the primary producers because of 10% rule, and the successive energy transfer will always be less than that of the primary producers.

Conclusion

The typical biomass of the primary producers will always be greater than that of the secondary producers.

Answer 9

Expert Solution & Answer

Answer 10

Expert Solution & Answer

Answer 11

Summary Introduction

To examine: Whether the primary producers or the secondary producers would have greater or lesser biomass production in an ecosystem, considering the 2^nd law of thermodynamics.

Introduction: The second law of thermodynamics states that “no energy transfer is 100% efficient; some energy is dispersed as heat”. In a living system such as in a cell, the second law of thermodynamics states that the capture and storage or use of energy is never 100% by the living cells. The energy is lost as disordered and metabolic heat energy.

Answer 12

Explanation of Solution

As per the 2^nd law of thermodynamics, the useable energy decreases all the time. Only 10% of the original energy is useable for the successive trophic level, whereas 90% is lost in the form of heat. When the secondary producers or the primary consumers eat a primary producer (grass or plants), it is not all of the energy that is stored in the plant gets converted to useable energy. This is because during energy transfer, the energy is always lost due to entropy.

Therefore, it suggests that for maintaining its life functions, an organism must use much energy. The lost energy in the form of heat by an organism is no longer useable for them as well as for other organisms.

In the case of secondary producers, the biomass will always be less when compared to the primary producers because of 10% rule, and the successive energy transfer will always be less than that of the primary producers.