Final answer:
Energy from the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis is carried to the Calvin cycle by ATP and NADPH, crucial molecules that store and transport chemical energy.
Step-by-step explanation:
Energy is carried from the light reactions to the carbon reactions, also known as the Calvin cycle, by two important molecules: ATP and NADPH. These energy-carrying molecules are produced during the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis, where sunlight is absorbed by chlorophyll and converted into chemical energy. The process of photosynthesis can be divided into two main stages:
- The light-dependent reactions, where energy from sunlight is absorbed by chlorophyll and transferred to ATP and NADPH.
- The light-independent reactions, also known as the Calvin cycle, where the energy carried by ATP and NADPH is used to fix carbon dioxide into glucose.
During the light-dependent reactions, energy absorbed from sunlight is temporarily stored in the bonds of ATP and NADPH. These molecules then transfer the energy to the Calvin cycle, during which carbon dioxide is fixed into more stable organic compounds like glucose.