What best describes the energy transfer when a panel absorbs energy from the sun to power a yard light?

The correct answer describes the process in which solar energy is converted into light energy. When a solar panel absorbs energy from the sun, it captures sunlight—this sunlight is a form of solar energy. The solar panel then converts this energy into electrical energy, which can power various devices, including a yard light. The crucial point here is that the conversion of energy captured from sunlight leads directly to the light produced by the yard light, making the transfer from solar energy to light energy the most fitting description of the energy transfer taking place.

In this context, while other forms of energy—like water, nuclear, or wind energy—are significant in other scenarios, they do not pertain to the operation of the solar panel in generating light for the yard light. This focus on how solar energy is transformed into light energy makes the choice a clear and accurate representation of the energy transfer process involved.