Video summary
Science presenter Jon Chase describes how food provides us with the glucose that is needed for respiration.
He demonstrates the reaction between the sugars in a jelly baby and molten potassium chlorate (V), which releases energy in a spectacular exothermic reaction.
Teacher Notes
Ask students if they know how many calories an adult man and woman need each day as part of a healthy and balanced diet. See if students can suggest why there is a difference between the two sexes.
Ask students to work in pairs to suggest how we can measure the energy released from a particular fuel.
Students could then complete a practical investigation to measure the energy released when different foods burn. More able students could complete calculations using specific heat capacity and the energy density of different foods.
They could work out the number of calories present in a food, and then compare this with the quoted value, considering heat loss as a major source of error.
These short films will be relevant for teaching biology and science in general at KS3 and KS4 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and National 4/5 in Scotland.
Aerobic respiration. video
Science presenter Jon Chase explains aerobic respiration.
An explanation of photosynthesis. video
Jon Chase explains photosynthesis.
Enzymes and active sites. video
Jon Chase demonstrates the action of the enzyme catalase.
Factors that affect germination. video
Jon Chase investigates the effect of temperature, water and oxygen on seed germination.
Microorganisms and bacteria. video
Personal possessions are swabbed for bacteria which are then cultured on agar plates.
Microscopy. video
Jon Chase describes three different types of microscope.
Mitosis Rap. video
Jon Chase raps about the stages of mitosis.
Osmosis Rap. video
Science presenter Jon Chase raps about osmosis.
Photosynthesis Rap. video
Science presenter Jon Chase raps about photosynthesis.
