How does an amoeba obtain its food?

An amoeba obtains food through a process called phagocytosis. During this process, the amoeba extends its flexible cell membrane to form pseudopodia, which surround and engulf food particles or smaller organisms. The engulfed material is enclosed in a food vacuole, where digestive enzymes break it down into nutrients. These nutrients then diffuse into the cytoplasm, supplying energy and building blocks necessary for growth and reproduction. This method of nutrition is essential for the amoeba's survival and demonstrates basic cellular feeding mechanisms.