About the principle of conservation law of energy......

[albertlee]

As energy energy never lost....only from one form to another....

What is the first energy that starts on Earth?
It is also considered to be the beginning of life....

On the other hand, can organisms live without any energy?


Thx for furthur responds

Albert

[blike]

On the other hand, can organisms live without any energy?

No. They all require energy, they just have different means of gathering it.

[Cap'n Refsmmat]

As energy energy never lost....only from one form to another....

What is the first energy that starts on Earth?
It is also considered to be the beginning of life....

Sunlight. It makes plants grow, which are then eaten by animals, who are eaten by other animals (including us), and since fossil fuels are made of plants, practically all the energy here is sunlight.

[albertlee]

So, if the Earth without Sunlight?, what will happen then? Is there still life on Earth? and, Does there still have energy on Earth?


Albert

[blike]

Maybe for a small period of time. There are creatures at the bottom of the ocean that can survive around sulfur vents. These "steal" chemical energy from the environment. They would have no problem without the sun.

The rest of us are out of luck.

[albertlee]

but Blike....

Are'nt the creatures will be frozen to death? as there has no sunlight to "warm up" the Earth?

Secondly, what do u mean by "steal" chemical energy from the environment?

Albert

[Cap'n Refsmmat]

The creatures at the vents get heat from the earth. As you know, the earth has a very hot core.
Steal, as in take in the chemicals and use them as energy.

[swansont]

So, if the Earth without Sunlight?, what will happen then? Is there still life on Earth? and, Does there still have energy on Earth?


Albert

There is also energy from radioactive decay, which is significant.

Life as we know it? Probably not. Life in some form? - not enough info to be sure.

[jordan]

How is radioactive decay important for life?

[Skye]

I don't think it is, swansont was probably replying to "Does there still have energy on Earth?" You could also say that everything else that hits the earth from space is an energy source too.

I think it's unsure whether the stuff living at ocean vents would survive without other life, as they might use some chemicals from them.

[jordan]

Upon second inspection it does appear so, however, it is the "which is important" part that has me confused.

[albertlee]

Ok, I saw many messages say that the creature in vents could take in chemicals as energy source.....

but what chemicals? Is it from one type of plant? but more over, is it completely dark on Earth without sun?

Albert

[Cap'n Refsmmat]

Without the sun, there are still stars.

But not much heat.

I'm not sure about the chemicals, though.

[albertlee]

any body knows about the chemicals?

[swansont]

, is it completely dark on Earth without sun?


What's it like at night, far from civilization, with no moon?

[Radical Edward]

the energy powering the hydrothermal vents (and generating the various compounds) originates in nuclear reactions in the core of the earth. even if the sun went out, these reactions would continue for some time, allowing life to continue around these vents. Just as a side note, the first of these vents to be seen was dubbed the "rose garden" because of it's bright red colours. Interestingly, there were many colours in the life there, but absolutely no green - the colour of chlorophyll. Sadly the rose garden is gone now, probably destroyed by a lava flow, though we know of plenty other vents. Other forms of life that might survive for a while are those in the Movile Caves in Romania. these organisms live purely on chemicals released from the rocks, again the sun is not a source of energy. Admittedly though, once the earth starts to freeze, these would disappear before those round the vents, which have a heat source to live on too.

hydrothermal vents:

http://www.geotimes.org/july02/NN_vents.html

http://www.ocean.udel.edu/deepsea/level-2/creature/crab.html


movile cave:

http://www.geocities.com/rainforest/vines/5771/

http://www.geo.utexas.edu/chemhydro/Annette/movile_cave_images.htm