Light travels as groups of energy known as photons. Chlorophyll molecules in the chloroplast are able to absorb light in this form because they are grouped into antenna complexes. These complexes are made up of several hundred molecules that are held onto the thylakoid membrane by special ...
The energy in sunlight comes as little parcels called photons. Photons each carry a tiny bit of energy. The energy of a blue photon is higher than the energy of a red photon. That's important because both solar cells and plants can only absorb sunlight if the energy is just right. When...
Natural light comes from the sun, while artificial forms of light include: LED grow lights, incandescent bulbs, fluorescent grow lights, etc. Artificial grow light converts electrical energy into a form of light that plants absorb through photosynthesis. To measure the amount of the grow light in...
Once an electron moves to a higher-energy orbit, it eventually wants to return to the ground state. When it does, it releases its energy as a photon — a particle of light. You see atoms releasing energy as photons all the time. For example, when the heating element in a toaster turns...
In the dark, the photoconductive layer on the drum acts as an insulator, resisting the flow of electrons from one atom to another. But when the layer is hit by light, the energy of the photons liberates electrons and allows current to pass through! These newly freed electrons are what ...
How do electrons absorb photons? When an electron absorbs a photon, it gains energy and moves to a higher energy state. This process is known as excitation. The energy of the photon must match the energy difference between the electron's initial and final energy levels for absorption to occur...
Solar energy is the light and heat that come from the sun. To understand how it's produced, let's start with the smallest form of solar energy: the photon. Photons are waves and particles that are created in the sun's core (the hottest part of the sun) through a process called nucle...
Solar energy is the light and heat that come from the sun. To understand how it's produced, let's start with the smallest form of solar energy: the photon. Photons are waves and particles that are created in the sun's core (the hottest part of the sun) through a process called nucle...
The photoelectric effect occurs when certain materials are exposed to a specific light spectrum and absorb photons from sunlight. Upon absorption, these photons can excite or energize the electrons within the material, causing them to escape their atomic bonds. As these electrons move, they generate...
Photons in sunlight provide the energy required for photosynthesis to occur. The plant captures these photons with light-absorbing pigments, such as chlorophyll and carotenoids. These pigments are also responsible for the green leaves on plants. Chlorophyll and carotenoids do not effectively absorb green...