The Nature of Sunlight Energy emitted from the sun comes from fusion reactions much like those that occur in a hydrogen bomb. Four hydrogen atoms fuse to form one helium atom. The helium atom has a mass slightly less than the total mass of the hydrogen atoms. The lost mass has been converted to energy. About 100 million tons of solar matter are converted to an enormous amount of energy each minute.
Sunlight is a form of energy known as electromagnetic energy or radiation.
Electromagnetic energy travels in rhythmic waves which are disturbances of electric and magnetic fields. Wavelengths - electromagnetic spectrum range from less than a nanometer for gamma rays to more than a kilometer for radio waves. The sun radiates the full spectrum of electromagnetic energy. Chlorophyl absorbs in the blue and red region may be reflected, transmitted or absorbed when it comes into contact with matter. Photosynthesis Pigments Pigments are substances that absorb visible light.