Final answer:
Plants absorb energy from sunlight and convert it into chemical energy through photosynthesis. They store this as glucose, and then convert some glucose into ATP for energy through cellular respiration. The excess energy supports other organisms in the ecosystem.
Step-by-step explanation:
How Plants Get and Use Energy
Plants acquire and use energy through a process called photosynthesis, where they absorb energy from sunlight and convert it into chemical energy in the form of glucose. Plants then use some of this glucose for their own needs, converting it into ATP (adenosine triphosphate) through a process known as cellular respiration. This ATP provides energy for various cellular activities. The steps in which a plant gets and uses energy are as follows:
- Plants absorb light energy from the sun primarily through chlorophyll, located in the chloroplasts of plant cells.
- The light energy is used to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose during photosynthesis.
- Glucose is stored in the plant, acting as a reserve of energy.
- Through cellular respiration, plants break down glucose to form ATP, which the plant cells can use for energy.
- The excess energy in glucose is available to other organisms that consume the plant.
As a result, plants play a crucial role in the ecosystem as primary producers, initiating the energy flow that supports all other organisms.