How does the sun's energy contribute to the formation of fossil fuels?

The sun's energy plays a crucial role in the formation of fossil fuels primarily through the process of photosynthesis. During photosynthesis, plants absorb sunlight and use it to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen. This stored energy and organic matter become the basis of the food chain. The remains of these plants, along with other living organisms, accumulate over millions of years, often in sedimentary environments such as swamps or ocean floors.

When organisms die, their remains can be buried under layers of sediment. Over time, the heat and pressure from these layers transform the organic material into fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas. Although decay does occur and some organic material may decompose, it is the initial energy captured from sunlight during photosynthesis that is fundamental to the creation of fossil fuels.

The other options refer to processes that, while related to energy transformations and interactions, do not directly explain how sunlight leads to the specific formation of fossil fuels. For instance, the absorption of sunlight by water bodies is more about the heating of water rather than organic matter conversion. The heating of the Earth's surface contributes to climate processes but doesn't directly lead to fossil fuel formation. While sunlight is indeed involved in the decay process, it is not the primary mechanism