Final answer:
Food energy is molecular potential energy stored within the chemical bonds of food molecules. When these bonds are broken during digestion, the chemical energy is released and converted into kinetic energy for the body to use. Energy transformation in this process adheres to the principle of conservation of energy.
Step-by-step explanation:
Food energy (calories) can be viewed as molecular potential energy because it is stored in the chemical bonds between atoms in molecules. Just as a compressed spring or a taut rubber band stores potential energy based on its structure, molecules store energy within their bonds. When we eat food, our bodies break down these molecules. As the bonds are broken, the chemical energy stored within them is released and converted into other forms of energy that our cells use to function.
In the human body, when we consume foods like honey or nuts in an energy bar, the substances that make up these foods are disassembled and reorganized.
This process allows the conversion of chemical energy from food into kinetic energy that our muscles use to perform actions, such as hiking. Notice that throughout these processes, energy is never created or destroyed; instead, it is transformed from one form to another. This transformation is a fundamental concept in chemistry and physics, known as the conservation of energy.