Explain How The Rate Of Photosynthesis Is Affected By The Color Of The Lamp
The lamp experiment is primarily based off of the process of photosynthesis. The experiment tracks the rate of photosynthesis as it is affected by the color of the light source. Changing the light bulb color changes the length of the wavelengths that hit the chloroplasts in the plant leaves and effects how fast or if photosynthesis occurs. The equation for photosynthesis is 6 CO2 + 6H2O + light energy=C6H12O6 + 6O2 meaning that when a plant cell absorbs carbon dioxide and water alongside sunlight then the plant will put off glucose and oxygen gas in result. This process is where humans and other heterotrophs get their oxygen to survive. Sunlight is captured through a pigment called chlorophyll, which absorbs every color light wave expect green,
which it reflects. This reflection of the green wavelengths causes most plants to be green, and leads be to believe that under a green light photosynthesis will not occur. For our experiment, my group will test how fast leaves that have been oxygen deprived in sodium bicarbonate buffer solution will rise because of form oxygen gas pockets brought on by the photosynthesis occuring in the leaf disks. Then we will change the color of the bulb a few times to see if the wavelengths in colors changes the rate of photosynthesis. The colors that my group will use is green with a wavelength range between 495-570 nm and yellow with a wavelength range between 570-596 nm. The distance between the light source and the leafs, wattage of the bulbs, and the number of leaves tested will all be the constants, and the independent variable will be the color (wavelength) of the lamp. My group has hypothesized that if we change the color of the light bulb that is 9.5 mm away from rim of the beaker to yellow or green therefore changing the wavelength that is hitting the chlorophyll in the plant leaf disks, then the rate of photosynthesis will decrease, because the light will not be absorbed in the leaves therefore not allowing energy to pass through, stopping and/or slowing down the process of photosynthesis. My alternative hypothesis is if the wavelength i.e. the color that is supplying energy to the plant changes, how fast photosynthesis occurs in plant leaves would not be affected.
which it reflects. This reflection of the green wavelengths causes most plants to be green, and leads be to believe that under a green light photosynthesis will not occur. For our experiment, my group will test how fast leaves that have been oxygen deprived in sodium bicarbonate buffer solution will rise because of form oxygen gas pockets brought on by the photosynthesis occuring in the leaf disks. Then we will change the color of the bulb a few times to see if the wavelengths in colors changes the rate of photosynthesis. The colors that my group will use is green with a wavelength range between 495-570 nm and yellow with a wavelength range between 570-596 nm. The distance between the light source and the leafs, wattage of the bulbs, and the number of leaves tested will all be the constants, and the independent variable will be the color (wavelength) of the lamp. My group has hypothesized that if we change the color of the light bulb that is 9.5 mm away from rim of the beaker to yellow or green therefore changing the wavelength that is hitting the chlorophyll in the plant leaf disks, then the rate of photosynthesis will decrease, because the light will not be absorbed in the leaves therefore not allowing energy to pass through, stopping and/or slowing down the process of photosynthesis. My alternative hypothesis is if the wavelength i.e. the color that is supplying energy to the plant changes, how fast photosynthesis occurs in plant leaves would not be affected.