Final answer:
Living organisms convert chemical energy from food into various forms such as kinetic and thermal energy, governed by the laws of thermodynamics.
Metabolism and the role of ATP in energy transfers are central to these processes, with plants producing sugars via photosynthesis and animals consuming them.
Step-by-step explanation:
The human body, at rest or during activities, consistently converts the chemical energy found in food into different forms such as kinetic energy, thermal energy, and, in cases of excess consumption, into chemical energy stored in fatty tissues. This process is governed by the laws of thermodynamics.
Metabolism is the collective term for the vast array of biochemical reactions that convert nutrients into energy and waste products. It is involved in the transfer of electrons in living systems, which is crucial for energy flow. A key energy molecule that plays a dominant role in metabolism is Adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which cells use as an immediate source of energy.
Plants and animals rely on a cycle of energy transformations. Plants harness light energy from the sun during the process of photosynthesis to convert carbon dioxide and water into sugars, which store energy in their chemical bonds.
Animals, in turn, consume these sugars and use the energy stored within these bonds to perform work and maintain homeostasis. These processes illustrate the conversion of potential energy to kinetic energy, as well as how the first two laws of thermodynamics apply to living organisms.