Question

Most cells cannot harness heat in order to perform work because?

Answer 1

Most cells use chemical energy and have various organelles use chemical energy to undergo their metabolic processes. Heat is a type of energy, however, it's thermal energy. Also, cells can somewhat harness heat to do work because their reliance on enzymes. Enzymes work to lower the activation energy of various metabolic processes and particular enzymes function better and varying temperature and pH.

Answer 2

Enzymes do work better at certain temperatures in relation to activation energies. However the cell is limited to certain temperatures at which the molecules within them to function. In particular enzymes (which use the "lock and key" model) need to fit their target molecule. When the temperature becomes to high (or too low) the actual shape of the enzyme changes and so it can no longer function. It is because of this the cell would not be able to harness thermal energy.

Answer 3

temperature is usually uniform throughout a cell

Answer 4

Also consider that most animals internal temperatures remain relatively stable (homeostasis). If cells were to harness heat, or thermal energy, they may send the organism's body out of equilibrium.