Question

Through photosynthesis, plants use sunlight to make their own food from carbon dioxide and water. In this process, molecules in the carbon dioxide and water are rearranged to make simple sugars and release oxygen. Not only do these sugars supply the plant with immediate chemical energy for growth, they combine into complex sugars and other substances that are stored for later use. Animals are not able to make their own food. They depend upon the plants that they eat for energy. Some animals eat only plants, while others eat both plants and smaller animals.

This model shows the role of photosynthesis in the flow of energy and matter in an ecosystem.



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Which BEST describes how energy is converted in the processes shown in the food web?


Solar energy is converted to chemical energy in a plant's leaves during photosynthesis, and then chemical energy is used to carry out basic life processes.


Chemical energy is converted to solar energy in a plant's leaves during photosynthesis, and then chemical energy is used to carry out basic life processes.


The plants receive chemical energy through the water they absorb through their roots, and then the chemical energy is converted to solar energy to carry out basic life processes.


The plants receive solar energy through the nutrients they absorb through their roots, and then the solar energy is converted to chemical energy to carry out basic life processes.

Answer 1

Solar energy is converted to chemical energy in a plant's leaves during photosynthesis, and then chemical energy is used to carry out basic life processes.

Reason: Plants capture sunlight and make sugars (chemical energy) by photosynthesis; those sugars power the plant's metabolism and provide energy to herbivores and higher consumers.