* Food as fuel: Just like cars need gasoline, animals need food to provide them with energy. Food contains chemical energy stored in the form of molecules like carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.
* Digestion and absorption: When animals eat, their bodies break down the food into smaller molecules through digestion. These smaller molecules are then absorbed into the bloodstream.
* Cellular energy: The absorbed molecules are transported to cells throughout the body. Inside each cell, a process called cellular respiration uses these molecules (especially glucose from carbohydrates) to create a molecule called ATP (adenosine triphosphate). ATP is the primary energy currency of cells.
* Energy for life: The ATP produced by cells provides the energy needed for essential life functions like:
* Movement (walking, running, flying)
* Growth and development
* Maintaining body temperature
* Repairing tissues
* Thinking and learning
Different types of animals get their energy from different sources:
* Herbivores: Eat only plants.
* Carnivores: Eat only meat.
* Omnivores: Eat both plants and meat.
Important note: The energy animals get from food is ultimately traced back to the sun. Plants use sunlight to make their own food through photosynthesis, and animals either eat plants directly or eat other animals that have eaten plants.