Bionergetics Definitions

• Aerobic respiration

  A form of respiration that uses oxygen to release energy from molecules like glucose
• Anaerobic respiration

  A form of respiration that releases energy from molecules like glucose without using oxygen
• Cellular respiration

  An exothermic reaction which is continuously occurring in living cells
• Inverse proportion

  As one value increases, the other value decreases at the same rate
• Inverse square law


  As the distance from a light source increases, the light intensity is inversely proportional to the distance squared
• Limiting factor

  A factor that limits the rate of a reaction when there is not enough of it
• Metabolism

  The sum of all the reactions in a cell or the body
• Oxygen debt

  The amount of extra oxygen the body needs after exercise to react with the accumulated lactic acid and remove it from the cells
• Photosynthesis

  An endothermic reaction in which energy is transferred from the environment to the chloroplasts by light