The energy used in photosynthesis is captured from which form of energy?

• A. Electrical energy
• B. Light energy
• C. Kinetic energy
• D. Chemical energy

Answer: (B)

Photosynthesis starts when pigments like chlorophyll absorb light from the sun. That light energy is captured and converted into chemical energy during the light-dependent reactions, as photons excite electrons and drive their movement through the photosynthetic electron transport chain. This produces ATP and NADPH, which store energy in chemical bonds and are then used in the Calvin cycle to build sugars. So the energy being captured and used comes from light energy. Electrical energy isn’t involved here, and kinetic energy isn’t the energy form at play. The process ultimately stores energy as chemical energy in sugars, but the initial source that drives it is light energy.