Final answer:
The energy from the sun is transported within chloroplasts by pigments in the thylakoid membrane, which facilitate the production of ATP and NADPH. These energy carriers are then used in the Calvin cycle to synthesize glucose.
Therefore, option a) is correct.
Step-by-step explanation:
The energy from the sun is transported within chloroplasts primarily through pigments in the thylakoid membrane. When photons strike photosystem II (PS II), pigments such as chlorophyll a absorb the light energy, which excites electrons and initiates the process of energy transfer via the electron transport chain. This leads to the production of ATP and NADPH, two essential molecules used in the Calvin cycle to synthesize glucose from carbon dioxide.
The process of transforming light energy into chemical energy is facilitated by a gradient of hydrogen ions, which are pumped into the thylakoid space forming an electrochemical gradient. These ions then pass back into the stroma through an enzyme called ATP synthase, which catalyzes the production of ATP in a process known as photophosphorylation. Additionally, photosystem I (PS I) plays a crucial role in generating NADPH, another energy carrier. Together, the ATP and NADPH produced in the light-dependent reactions provide the energy required for the Calvin cycle, where carbon fixation occurs, resulting in the production of glucose.