1) Plants use photosynthesis to capture energy from sunlight and produce glucose food from carbon dioxide and water, while animals obtain energy by eating plants or other animals. 2) Cells release energy stored in food through cellular respiration using oxygen, or through fermentation when oxygen is unavailable. 3) Photosynthesis and cellular respiration are opposite but complementary processes - photosynthesis produces oxygen and food, while cellular respiration consumes oxygen and food to release energy.