How do plants and animals obtain energy differently?

Plants obtain energy through photosynthesis, a process where they convert sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water into glucose and oxygen, allowing them to produce their own food. In contrast, animals are heterotrophs, meaning they cannot produce their own food and must consume other organisms—either plants or other animals— to obtain the energy they need for survival. This fundamental difference in energy acquisition defines their roles in ecosystems, with plants serving as primary producers and animals as consumers.