[Campbell Biology P.194] Which of the following best describes an organism in the context of... | Practice Question

Which of the following best describes an organism in the context of thermodynamics?

  • A: An isolated system, as it does not exchange matter with its surroundings.
  • B: A closed system, exchanging energy but not matter with its surroundings.
  • C: An open system, exchanging both energy and matter with its surroundings.
  • D: A hypothetical system, as thermodynamics only applies to non-living matter.

Explanation

The text explicitly states that 'Organisms are open systems' because they 'absorb energy... and release heat and metabolic waste products' to and from their surroundings, meaning they exchange both energy and matter.