What is the primary source of energy on earth? A. soil B. sun C. water D. wind
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Correct Answer: B. Sun
The Sun serves as the primary source of energy on Earth. It emits vast amounts of radiant energy in the form of light and heat, which sustain life and drive most natural processes. Plants utilize sunlight during photosynthesis to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen, forming the foundation of the food chain. This process also generates the oxygen necessary for the respiration of animals and humans.
Solar energy influences weather patterns by heating the Earth’s surface unevenly, creating wind and ocean currents. The movement of air masses and the evaporation of water into clouds are all consequences of solar heating. Rainfall, storms, and climate variations all depend significantly on the sun’s energy input.
Even alternative energy sources like wind and water are indirectly derived from the sun. Wind results from air movement due to temperature differences created by solar heating. Hydropower depends on the water cycle, which is driven by evaporation caused by sunlight. Fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas originate from ancient plants and organisms that stored solar energy through photosynthesis millions of years ago.
The soil, although essential for plant growth, does not generate energy by itself. It supports life by providing nutrients, but the energy necessary for plant development still comes from the sunlight absorbed by chlorophyll. Wind and water are valuable renewable sources of power, but they cannot function independently without the initial energy provided by the sun.
Without the sun, temperatures on Earth would plummet, photosynthesis would cease, and ecosystems would collapse. Nearly all living organisms rely directly or indirectly on solar energy for survival, growth, and reproduction. This makes the sun the most critical and fundamental source of energy sustaining life and environmental systems on the planet.
