Final answer:
A concept map of energy shows that the Sun provides energy to plants, which convert it into chemical energy through photosynthesis. This energy is then stored in food, from which cells derive ATP through cellular respiration, powering cell activity and enabling work to be performed.
Step-by-step explanation:
When constructing a concept map to illustrate the main concept of energy, we must consider the pathways and relationships between various elements. For instance, the Sun serves as the primary source of energy for life on Earth. Plants harness this energy through the process of photosynthesis, converting it into chemical energy. This chemical energy is then stored in the bonds of glucose, which becomes the food that feeds not only the plants themselves but also the organisms that eat the plants.
Cellular respiration is the process by which organisms, including plants and animals, convert this stored chemical energy from food into ATP (adenosine triphosphate), a molecule that cells use to power various activities. Thus, work can be described as the physical or biological actions that result from the use of energy, such as muscle contraction or cellular movements.
Now, in a concept map, we would start by placing the Sun at the top and draw an arrow down to Plants, indicating that plants receive energy from the Sun. An arrow from Plants would point towards Food, showing that plants produce food. Next, arrows would flow from Food to both Cell Activity and Work, indicating that food provides energy for cells to function and for living beings to conduct work. This represents the flow of energy from an environmental source through organisms and into biological activities.