I’ve Googled and every source I come across just says “plants gather (light) energy from the sun and use it for photosynthesis.” What exactly is “light energy”? Is is some sort of radiation? Is it just heat?
In: Planetary Science
Radiation in a spectrum that goes a bit beyond our ability to see, up into UV light. Heat is too low frequency for them to use in photosynthesis, but being comfortably warm helps with the chemical processes down the line.
The photons have to wiggle enthusiastically enough to be useful. They smash into chlorophyll and start a cascade of reactions that turns CO2 and water into sugar.
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