Here's how it works:
* Sunlight: Plants use sunlight as their energy source.
* Chlorophyll: This green pigment in plants captures the energy from sunlight.
* Carbon Dioxide: Plants take in carbon dioxide from the air.
* Water: Plants absorb water from the ground through their roots.
* Photosynthesis: Using the captured sunlight energy, plants combine carbon dioxide and water to create glucose (sugar) and oxygen. The glucose is their food, and they release the oxygen into the air.
Animals don't have chlorophyll, so they can't capture sunlight energy to make their own food. Instead, animals get their food by eating plants or other animals that have already eaten plants. This process is called heterotrophy.
In summary: Plants are autotrophs (self-feeders) because they can make their own food through photosynthesis. Animals are heterotrophs (other-feeders) because they need to consume food made by plants or other animals.
