How do living things and machines use chemical energy?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking about the ways in which living organisms and machines utilize chemical energy. It seeks to explore the processes involved in energy conversion in both biological systems and mechanical systems.
Answer
Living things convert food into energy, machines burn fuels.
Living things convert chemical energy from food into mechanical and heat energy for sustaining life, while machines use chemical energy, often from combustion of fossil fuels, to produce work and electricity.
Answer for screen readers
Living things convert chemical energy from food into mechanical and heat energy for sustaining life, while machines use chemical energy, often from combustion of fossil fuels, to produce work and electricity.
More Information
Living organisms sustain their life processes by breaking down organic molecules and using the energy stored in their bonds. Machines often rely on the combustion of fossil fuels to convert chemical energy into kinetic or electrical energy.
Tips
A common mistake is not distinguishing between the natural conversion processes in living organisms and artificial processes in machines. Both systems rely on chemical energy but use it differently.
Sources
- Chemical Energy: Quick Primer on What It Is and How It Works - justenergy.com
- Catalysis and the Use of Energy by Cells - Molecular Biology ... - NCBI - ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- chemical energy - Kids | Britannica Kids | Homework Help - kids.britannica.com
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