Final answer:
The energy source for photosynthesis is the radiant energy from the sun, which is captured and converted into chemical energy stored in glucose. It's an essential process for life on Earth, providing energy and oxygen for organisms and maintaining atmospheric balance.
Step-by-step explanation:
The source of energy that drives the process of photosynthesis is the radiant energy from the sun. This essential biological process captures sunlight, which contains radiant energy, and converts it into chemical energy stored in the form of glucose. Indeed, it begins the flow of energy through life, using a variety of energy-carrying molecules to transform this sunlight energy into the chemical energy needed by all living things. Both plants and animals rely on the oxygen and carbohydrates produced by photosynthesis, which not only fuels their metabolism but also maintains the balance of oxygen in the atmosphere.
Photosynthesis is fascinating because it is the only natural biological process that captures energy originating from outer space. The energy of sunlight is 'captured' through structures like chlorophyll to energize electrons, which are then stored in the covalent bonds of sugar molecules. The covalent bonds in glucose are long-lasting and stable, evidenced by the fact that the energy used today from burning fossil fuels was initially captured by photosynthesis millions of years ago.