What energy source do producers use to drive photosynthesis?

What energy source do producers use to drive photosynthesis?

• A. Chemical energy from previously consumed organisms
• B. Light energy from the sun
• C. Nuclear energy
• D. Kinetic energy from soil warmth

Answer: (B)

Energy from light drives photosynthesis. Plants and other producers capture photons with chlorophyll, and the absorbed light energy excites electrons to power the electron transport chain. This creates chemical energy in the form of ATP and NADPH, which then fuels the Calvin cycle to convert CO2 into glucose. So sunlight is the source of energy for this process. The other options don’t fit because they describe energy sources that aren’t used to power the light-driven reactions of photosynthesis (chemical energy from previous meals for heterotrophs, nuclear energy, or heat from soil) and thus don’t propel the production of sugars in producers.

Energy from light drives photosynthesis. Plants and other producers capture photons with chlorophyll, and the absorbed light energy excites electrons to power the electron transport chain. This creates chemical energy in the form of ATP and NADPH, which then fuels the Calvin cycle to convert CO2 into glucose. So sunlight is the source of energy for this process. The other options don’t fit because they describe energy sources that aren’t used to power the light-driven reactions of photosynthesis (chemical energy from previous meals for heterotrophs, nuclear energy, or heat from soil) and thus don’t propel the production of sugars in producers.