Final answer:
The light reactions and the Calvin cycle are two stages of photosynthesis that are interdependent on each other. In the light reactions, light energy is used to produce ATP and NADPH. These energy-rich molecules are then used in the Calvin cycle to convert CO2 into glucose.
Step-by-step explanation:
The light reactions and the Calvin cycle are two stages of photosynthesis that are interdependent on each other. In the light reactions, which occur in the thylakoid membrane, light energy is used to produce ATP and NADPH. These energy-rich molecules are then used in the Calvin cycle, which takes place in the stroma, to convert CO₂ into glucose.
The reactants of the light reactions are light energy, water, and ADP + Pi (inorganic phosphate), while the products are ATP, NADPH, and oxygen gas. The reactants of the Calvin cycle are ATP, NADPH, and CO₂, while the product is glucose.
The substances that go back and forth between the light reactions and the Calvin cycle are ATP and NADPH. These energy molecules are produced in the light reactions and are used as a source of energy in the Calvin cycle. Once used in the Calvin cycle, ATP and NADPH are returned to the light reactions to be recharged with energy.