Background: Active transport occurs when a substance passes through the cell membrane with the help of extra energy. This happens when a substance moves from an area where it is less concentrated to an area where it is more concentrated. This is the opposite of diffusion. The substance moves up, instead of down, the concentration gradient. Like rolling a ball uphill, this requires an input of energy. The energy comes from the molecule named ATP (adenosine triphosphate). The energy allows special transport proteins called pumps to move substances to areas of higher concentration. An example is the sodium-potassium pump.

Situation: Gary is a high school student examining two cells under a microscope for his biology class. In a petri dish, marked Cell X, Gary sees that substances inside the cell are spreading apart from each other making it less concentrated. In the dish marked Cell Y, Gary sees substances coming together and moving into close proximity to one another.

Question: Which cell is utilizing diffusion?
Answer: Cell X

Situation: Gary is a high school student examining two cells under a microscope for his biology class. In a petri dish, marked Cell X, Gary sees that substances inside the cell are spreading apart from each other making it less concentrated. In the dish marked Cell Y, Gary sees substances coming together and moving into close proximity to one another.

Question: Which cell is utilizing active transport?
Answer: Cell Y

Situation: Gary is a high school student examining two cells under a microscope for his biology class. In a petri dish, marked Cell X, Gary sees that substances inside the cell are spreading apart from each other making it less concentrated. In the dish marked Cell Y, Gary sees substances coming together and moving into close proximity to one another.

Question: Which cell is using more energy?
Answer: Cell Y

Situation: Gary is a high school student examining two cells under a microscope for his biology class. In a petri dish, marked Cell X, Gary sees that substances inside the cell are spreading apart from each other making it less concentrated. In the dish marked Cell Y, Gary sees substances coming together and moving into close proximity to one another.

Question: Which cell is using less energy?
Answer: Cell X

Situation: Gary is a high school student examining two cells under a microscope for his biology class. In a petri dish, marked Cell X, Gary sees that substances inside the cell are spreading apart from each other making it less concentrated. In the dish marked Cell Y, Gary sees substances coming together and moving into close proximity to one another.

Question: Is cell Y using more or less ATP than cell X?
Answer: more

Situation: Gary is a high school student examining two cells under a microscope for his biology class. In a petri dish, marked Cell X, Gary sees that substances inside the cell are spreading apart from each other making it less concentrated. In the dish marked Cell Y, Gary sees substances coming together and moving into close proximity to one another.

Question: Is cell X using more or less ATP than cell Y?
Answer: less

Situation: Gary is a high school student examining two cells under a microscope for his biology class. In a petri dish, marked Cell X, Gary sees that substances inside the cell are spreading apart from each other making it less concentrated. In the dish marked Cell Y, Gary sees substances coming together and moving into close proximity to one another.

Question: Pumps are being used in which cell?
Answer: Cell Y

Situation: Gary is a high school student examining two cells under a microscope for his biology class. In a petri dish, marked Cell X, Gary sees that substances inside the cell are spreading apart from each other making it less concentrated. In the dish marked Cell Y, Gary sees substances coming together and moving into close proximity to one another.

Question: Pumps aren't being used in which cell?
Answer: Cell X

Situation: Gary is a high school student examining two cells under a microscope for his biology class. In a petri dish, marked Cell X, Gary sees that substances inside the cell are spreading apart from each other making it less concentrated. In the dish marked Cell Y, Gary sees substances coming together and moving into close proximity to one another.

Question: Is cell X moving up or down the concentration gradient?
Answer: down

Situation: Gary is a high school student examining two cells under a microscope for his biology class. In a petri dish, marked Cell X, Gary sees that substances inside the cell are spreading apart from each other making it less concentrated. In the dish marked Cell Y, Gary sees substances coming together and moving into close proximity to one another.

Question: Is cell Y moving up or down the concentration gradient?
Answer: up

Situation: Two cells, Cell B and Cell C, are being examined under microscopes by students in a science class. While looking at the cells, one student, Kim, notices that there is a noticeable trend in Cell B for a particular substance to try to group up in a more concentrated area. In Cell C though, she notices that the same substance is spreading apart and finding less concentrated areas to move to.

Question: Which cell is exhibiting active transport?
Answer: Cell B

Situation: Two cells, Cell B and Cell C, are being examined under microscopes by students in a science class. While looking at the cells, one student, Kim, notices that there is a noticeable trend in Cell B for a particular substance to try to group up in a more concentrated area. In Cell C though, she notices that the same substance is spreading apart and finding less concentrated areas to move to.

Question: Which cell is not exhibiting active transport?
Answer: Cell C

Situation: Two cells, Cell B and Cell C, are being examined under microscopes by students in a science class. While looking at the cells, one student, Kim, notices that there is a noticeable trend in Cell B for a particular substance to try to group up in a more concentrated area. In Cell C though, she notices that the same substance is spreading apart and finding less concentrated areas to move to.

Question: Which cell is exhibiting diffusion?
Answer: Cell C

Situation: Two cells, Cell B and Cell C, are being examined under microscopes by students in a science class. While looking at the cells, one student, Kim, notices that there is a noticeable trend in Cell B for a particular substance to try to group up in a more concentrated area. In Cell C though, she notices that the same substance is spreading apart and finding less concentrated areas to move to.

Question: Which cell is not exhibiting diffusion?
Answer: Cell B

Situation: Two cells, Cell B and Cell C, are being examined under microscopes by students in a science class. While looking at the cells, one student, Kim, notices that there is a noticeable trend in Cell B for a particular substance to try to group up in a more concentrated area. In Cell C though, she notices that the same substance is spreading apart and finding less concentrated areas to move to.

Question: Is Cell C or Cell B using more energy from ATP molecules?
Answer: Cell B

Situation: Two cells, Cell B and Cell C, are being examined under microscopes by students in a science class. While looking at the cells, one student, Kim, notices that there is a noticeable trend in Cell B for a particular substance to try to group up in a more concentrated area. In Cell C though, she notices that the same substance is spreading apart and finding less concentrated areas to move to.

Question: Is Cell C or Cell B using less energy from ATP molecules?
Answer: Cell C

Situation: Two cells, Cell B and Cell C, are being examined under microscopes by students in a science class. While looking at the cells, one student, Kim, notices that there is a noticeable trend in Cell B for a particular substance to try to group up in a more concentrated area. In Cell C though, she notices that the same substance is spreading apart and finding less concentrated areas to move to.

Question: Pumps are being utilized more in which cell?
Answer: Cell B

Situation: Two cells, Cell B and Cell C, are being examined under microscopes by students in a science class. While looking at the cells, one student, Kim, notices that there is a noticeable trend in Cell B for a particular substance to try to group up in a more concentrated area. In Cell C though, she notices that the same substance is spreading apart and finding less concentrated areas to move to.

Question: Pumps are being utilized less in which cell?
Answer: Cell C