Final answer:
In the carbon cycle, the inputs for cellular respiration, carbohydrates and oxygen, are the outputs of photosynthesis. These two processes are interconnected, with one's products serving as the other's reactants, thus maintaining atmospheric balance.
Step-by-step explanation:
Photosynthesis and cellular respiration are two natural processes that are part of the carbon cycle. These two processes are related in part because the inputs for cellular respiration, carbohydrates and oxygen, are the outputs of photosynthesis.
Photosynthesis and cellular respiration are like two sides of the same coin in the carbon cycle. They form a reciprocal relationship where the products of photosynthesis are the reactants for cellular respiration, and vice versa. During photosynthesis, light energy is absorbed to build carbohydrates in chloroplasts, which produce oxygen as a byproduct. The energy stored in carbohydrates is then used in cellular respiration, where it is metabolized with the help of oxygen in the cytoplasm and mitochondria of cells. This releases energy to power the cell's functions and emits carbon dioxide and water as byproducts. These processes together maintain the balance of carbon dioxide and oxygen in Earth's atmosphere, enabling life to survive as we know it.