Mitochondria convert biochemical energy from food and oxygen into ATP through a process involving electron flow and membrane potential, powering a rotary mechanism.

“Uh and their purpose is to uh process transform energy. Uh and one of the ways in which they they transform energy is taking raw uh energy from biochemistry the the food you eat uh empowered by oxygen to you know flow those electrons and then making building a a charge and then powering this beautiful rotor. Uh some people might have seen this. It's kind of a a rotary, you know, uh engine kind of thing. a turbine uh and then when the mito when mitochondria build their membrane potential to become charged they use that charge to power the rotation of this turbine and then as the turbine turns it converts ADP into ATP so now you have conversion of biochemistry into electricity and electrochemical charge in the mitochondria back into biochemistry ATP”