What is Photosynthesis?

Photo means light and synthesis means put together.

It is a process which only plants can carry out in the daytime where there is sunlight to make their own food.

Why do Plants carry out Photosynthesis?

Firstly, Plants are living things and they need to eat too, just like us.

So, photosynthesis is a method on how they make food for them themselves!

Secondly, The main source of food from Earth comes from plants.
Here's an example of some simple food chains for you to see it clearer:

Examples:

1. Plant -----> Goat -----> Tiger

2. Plant ------> Deer -------> Lion

3. Plant ------> Cow --------> Human (in our cheeseburgers!)

So there you have it, plant is always the first in our food chain. Besides carrying
out photosynthesis to make their own food, plants carry out photosynthesis to
provide food for all the living things on Earth.

Without plants, the goats, deers, cows will not have anything to eat. When there are no herbivores like them, the rest of the animals who feed on them goes hungry as well!

Thirdly, when carrying out photosynthesis, plants give out a gas called oxygen. This is the gas we need to breathe. Hence, during photosynthesis, plants actually produce 2 useful things for us!

What are needed during Photosynthesis?

A car needs wheels, doors, mirrors, engines etc. work.

So, there are definitely some important things needed for photosynthesis to work!

To get started on photosynthesis, plants need 4 things.

1. Carbon dioxide (a type of gas which we give out when we breathe)
2. Sunlight
3. Water
4. Chlorophyll (found in the green leaves of plants)

Credits from http://www.1ststeps.org/Science/Photosynthesis/photosynthesis.htm