Frost’s “The Wood-pile”

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Christie Colombero                        Period 1                        10/4/02

Frost’s “The Wood-pile”

“A small bird flew before me.  He was careful

To put a tree between us when he lighted.”

        

        To scientifically analyze how the bird actually flew, we must start with the sun.  The basic energy source for everything is the sun.  Green plants use sunlight in photosynthesis.  During photosynthesis, chlorophyll captures light energy and turns it into chemical energy.  This energy is used to combine water, carbon dioxide and minerals into sugar and other organic compounds.  In order to bond these raw materials, energy is needed, making this reaction endergonic.  Birds then eat plants or other animals that eat plants and acquire that energy found in the sugars and organic compounds.  Plants and foods are broken down into glucose.  This process is exergonic and releases energy that is built up in the bonds of plants and other foods.  The energy released is then used in making ATP from ADP and phosphate.  Energy is needed to combine ADP and phosphate making that an endergonic reaction.

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        When the bird needs to fly or move it uses the energy stored in ATP.  A coenzyme breaks off a phosphate unit and releases energy to move the bird’s muscles.  The reaction is exergonic, releasing about ten calories of energy.  If all the energy is not used in muscle contraction at that time, it can be turned into compounds in the muscles such as creatine and glucose.  Energy is needed to join such molecules together, making this reaction endergonic.  The glucose is then broken down to furnish heat which keeps the bird warm in the cold winter months.  The breaking ...

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