Here's how it works:
* Photosynthesis: Plants and some bacteria use sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose (a sugar) and oxygen. This process, called photosynthesis, stores the sun's energy in the chemical bonds of glucose.
* Cellular Respiration: Most living organisms, including animals, obtain energy by breaking down the glucose produced by plants through cellular respiration. This process releases the stored energy from glucose, making it available for life processes like growth, movement, and reproduction.
So, while we might get our energy from eating food, the food itself ultimately traces its energy back to the sun. This makes the sun the ultimate source of energy for life on Earth.
