Final answer:
The sun's energy is delivered in discrete packets called photons, which are mass-less packets of solar energy that travel as waves. Photons are essential for photosynthesis, where they are absorbed by chlorophyll to generate energy carriers such as ATP and NADPH.
Step-by-step explanation:
The sun's energy is delivered as discrete packets that travel as waves and are called photons. The sun emits an enormous amount of electromagnetic radiation, or solar energy, which is comprised of these tiny, mass-less packets of energy known as photons. The section of this energy that is visible to humans is called visible light. Photons travel in a wave-like pattern, and their wavelength determines the amount of energy they carry. Shorter wavelengths mean more energy per photon, while longer wavelengths imply less energy.
In the context of photosynthesis, photons are absorbed by chlorophyll in plants, initiating the light-dependent reactions. These reactions utilize photons to generate energy carriers like ATP and NADPH, which are crucial for the synthesis of sugars in the Calvin cycle.