Question

In one year, the plants in each square meter of an ecosystem obtained 1,460 kilowatt hours(kWh) of the sun's energy by photosynthesis. In that year, each square meter of plants stored 237 kWh. What percentage of the sun's energy did the plants use for life processes in that year?

Answer 1

The plants used approximately 83.77% of the sun's energy obtained for life processes in one year. This calculation is done by subtracting the energy stored from the total energy obtained and then finding the percentage of the remainder relative to the total energy obtained by the plants.

Step-by-step explanation:

To find the percentage of the sun's energy used by the plants for life processes, one must subtract the energy stored by the plants from the total energy obtained and then calculate the percentage of the remaining energy relative to the total energy obtained. The plants in each square meter obtained 1,460 kWh of energy and stored 237 kWh. Therefore, the energy used for life processes is 1,460 kWh - 237 kWh, which equals 1,223 kWh.

Now, to find the percentage:

• Total energy obtained from the sun: 1,460 kWh
• Energy stored: 237 kWh
• Energy used for life processes: 1,223 kWh

Percentage of sun's energy used for life processes = (Energy used for life processes / Total energy obtained) × 100

Percentage = (1,223 kWh / 1,460 kWh) × 100

Percentage = 83.77% (rounded to two decimal places)

Therefore, the plants used approximately 83.77% of the sun's energy obtained for life processes in that year.