The energy from the Sun that reaches Earth as light and heat is best described as:

The energy from the Sun that reaches Earth as light and heat is best described as:

• A. Radiant Energy
• B. Chemical Energy
• C. Mechanical Energy
• D. Kinetic Energy

Answer: (A)

Radiant energy is energy carried by light and other electromagnetic waves. The Sun sends out photons across the spectrum, and when those photons reach Earth they bring energy as visible light and infrared heat. This is why sunlight can warm surfaces and illuminate the planet. It’s different from chemical energy, which is stored in chemical bonds and released by reactions; mechanical energy, which relates to the motion or position of objects; and kinetic energy, specifically the energy of motion. Radiant energy is the energy form associated with electromagnetic radiation, the primary way the Sun’s energy reaches us.

Radiant energy is energy carried by light and other electromagnetic waves. The Sun sends out photons across the spectrum, and when those photons reach Earth they bring energy as visible light and infrared heat. This is why sunlight can warm surfaces and illuminate the planet. It’s different from chemical energy, which is stored in chemical bonds and released by reactions; mechanical energy, which relates to the motion or position of objects; and kinetic energy, specifically the energy of motion. Radiant energy is the energy form associated with electromagnetic radiation, the primary way the Sun’s energy reaches us.