Courses
Courses for Kids
Free study material
Offline Centres
More
Store Icon
Store
seo-qna
SearchIcon
banner

What is the ultimate source of energy for organisms?

Answer
VerifiedVerified
446.7k+ views
like imagedislike image
Hint: The ultimate source of energy for almost all organisms on earth provides energy to organisms through the process of photosynthesis. Autotrophic organisms produce carbohydrates that are passed down through the food chain.

Complete answer:
Sunlight is a part of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the Sun. It is generally composed of infrared, ultraviolet and visible light. The ultraviolet radiation emitted by the sun has both useful as well as harmful consequences. The UV radiation is a prerequisite for the synthesis of vitamin D3. UV radiation is also a mutagen that causes skin cancer.
Sunlight plays a major role in photosynthesis.
Nearly all life on earth exists because of sunlight. Almost all organisms on earth ultimately receive their energy from the Sun. Autotrophic organisms use the energy of the Sun with the help of carbon dioxide and water to produce simple carbohydrates. This process is known as photosynthesis. The process of photosynthesis allows the growth of autotrophic organisms. Heterotrophic organisms use sunlight as an energy source by consuming autotrophic organisms and/or their products. The sugars and other components present in the autotrophic organisms break down in the heterotrophic organisms. This provides solar energy to the heterotrophic organisms. This energy is necessary for the survival of the organism. The process of using the autotrophic nutrients to derive energy for survival is known as cellular respiration.

Note:
Photosynthetic autotrophs convert the light energy from the sunlight into chemical energy. This chemical energy is used for the synthesis of carbohydrates and energy to fuel the basic activities of an organism.
Prehistoric humans gathered plants to derive energy from them. These skills were passed down to later generations.
Latest Vedantu courses for you
Grade 11 Science PCM | CBSE | SCHOOL | English
CBSE (2025-26)
calendar iconAcademic year 2025-26
language iconENGLISH
book iconUnlimited access till final school exam
tick
School Full course for CBSE students
PhysicsPhysics
ChemistryChemistry
MathsMaths
₹41,848 per year
Select and buy