Here's why:
* Photosynthesis: Plants use sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to produce glucose (a sugar) and oxygen. This is the plant's energy source.
* Cellular Respiration: All living organisms, including plants, use glucose as fuel to generate energy (ATP) in the form of chemical bonds. They do this by breaking down glucose in the presence of oxygen, releasing carbon dioxide and water as byproducts.
So, the glucose produced in photosynthesis is essentially the "food" used by the plant (and other organisms that consume plants) in cellular respiration. This forms a continuous cycle of energy flow in nature.
