Where does the Sun's Energy Go?

Energy from the Sun leaves the core and cools as it passes through the outer layers of gas. The energy, in the form of heat and light, enters space in every direction. It takes just over eight minutes for sunlight (solar energy) to travel 93 million miles and reach Earth!

Since sunlight travels in all directions, only a fraction of the Sun's energy reaches Earth's atmosphere. Some of the energy bounces off Earth and back into space. Much of it is absorbed and converted to heat. Plants store a small amount of solar energy in their cells. What plants do with the solar energy makes nearly all life on Earth possible.