A student prepares for a five-mile run so she eats a nutritious meal three hours before the run. Which correctly illustrates the transformation of energy from eating the meal to the five-mile run?

The transformation of energy from eating the meal to the five mile run is from

Chemical energy --> kinetic energy--> thermal energy.

Explanation:

In nature, energy exists in various forms. These forms are inter- convertible, that is, one form of energy can be transformed into another form. Such energy transformations are governed by the laws of thermodynamics.

The first law of thermodynamics states that energy cannot be created or destroyed but may be transformed from one form into another.

Living organisms which comprises the biotic components of an ecosystem are energy converters. For example:

--> plants convert solar energy into chemical energy during photosynthesis

--> animals convert chemical energy into kinetic energy when they move about. This in turn is lost as heat energy when highly complex organised food molecules are broken down.

From the question, the student ate a nutritious meal ( CHEMICAL energy) which is converted to KINETIC energy as she took a five miles run ( as she worked). 'Work' here refers not only to physical activities but also to the various metabolic processes necessary to maintain life. And each time work is done, kinetic energy is converted to heat( thermal energy)