Which materials can trace power back to the Sun?

The correct answer highlights fossil fuels as materials that can trace their power back to the Sun because they are formed from ancient organic matter, which originally derived its energy from the sunlight through the process of photosynthesis. Plants and other microorganisms capture solar energy, and when these organisms die and become buried over millions of years, they transform into fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas, storing that solar energy in the process.

Fossil fuels are unique in their connection to the Sun because they represent a significant period in geological history where sunlight was converted into chemical energy by living organisms. This energy is released when fossil fuels are burned, providing power for various applications.

In contrast, while wind and water energy are also influenced by solar energy indirectly—in that solar energy drives atmospheric and hydrological cycles—fossil fuels have a more direct and tangible link to ancient sunlight. This distinction makes fossil fuels the most relevant answer in terms of tracing energy back to the Sun.