The student is most likely tracking the transfer of radiant energy from the sun to the plant. Radiant energy is a form of energy that travels in waves and can be seen as light, heat, or other forms of electromagnetic radiation. In this case, the sunlight that the plant receives is a form of radiant energy that is absorbed by the plant and used for photosynthesis, which converts the radiant energy into chemical energy that the plant can use as fuel.
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