How Does An Increase In Light Intensity Affects The Rate Of Respiration
An Increase in Light Intensity Increases the Rate of Respiration
M. Chauntise, S. Shaika, R. Shantal
INTRODUCTION
The sun plays a vital role in sustaining an entire living world whether indirectly or directy using a transformation process called photosynthesis. This process assists in nourishing plants and keeping them alive. For example, trees grow very tall in the rainforest where there is an abundance of water in order to reach as much light as they can. For this reason, in order to survive the chloroplast in plants must capture light energy from the sun and convert it into chemical energy that is stored in sugar and other organic molecules (Photosynthesis, 2014, p. 185). In plants that contain chlorophyll, the photosynthesis process splits H20, releasing oxygen, and storing the produced energy resulting from the chemical reaction inside a carbohydrate molecule. This is shown in the following equation for photosynthesis: Water + Carbon Dioxide (with the aid of chlorophyll and light energy) Glucose + Oxygen (Matthews & Lindbeck, 2013).
In addition, the rate of photosynthesis has varying factors, which among them include the amount of carbon dioxide present, the light intensity, and the type of organism. In this experiment, our aim was to investigate how the amount of light intensity affects …show more content…
the rate of photosynthesis in the Elodea plant. The expectation was that as the amount of light intensity increases (distance between the lamp and the elodea plant), so would the rate of photosynthesis (measured by the increased volume of oxygen produced by the elodea in 10 minutes).
MATERIALS AND METHOD
We carefully placed 8-10 pieces of Elodea (approx. 3-4 inches long) into a 250 mL Nalgene bottle filled with 200 mL of tap water containing a stir bar. Afterward we positioned the bottle in the center of the stir plate with a corner of the bottle facing the lamp that was 75cm away. Next, we turned on the stirrer and adjusted the speed to approximately 800 rpm to dislodge any gas bubbles released by the Elodea. We then placed the light sensor on the stir plate next to the bottle, facing the lamp and secured it with a piece of tap. After that the O2 (position one) and light (position two) sensors were plugged into the data logger and the parameters were changed one sample every 5 seconds for 600 seconds for 15 minutes in order to reach a constant rate of oxygen production (Matthews & Lindbeck, 2013).
To determine the effects of light intensity on the rate of photosynthesis we carefully inserted the 02 gas into the neck of the bottle, zeroed the sensor, and recorded (the slope of the regression line and therefore the rate of 02 release) data after an additional 10 minutes. We repeated these steps with the lamp at additional distances of 50cm and 25cm (Matthews & Lindbeck, 2013). The data recorded from this experiment were inputted in Figures 1 and 2.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The efficiency of photosynthesis can be measured by the rate of O2 production (see Figure 1). The rate of O2 production increases as light intensity or the distance between the Elodea and lamp decreased. This suggests that the rate of photosynthesis increases with light intensity. Alternatively, the power of the lamp, being somewhat subjective, is less accurate than using direct sunlight, which varies intensities. Figure 1
By altering, the distance of the lamp from 75cm to 50cm it slightly decreased the rate of O2 production. The light intensity provided from the lamps bulb also decreased. However, the modification to the lamps distance was not as extreme as going from 50cm to 25cm.
Figure 2
Similar results were observed in Figure 2. As you decrease from a high light intensity to a low light intensity, the rate of 02 production will decrease because there is not enough available light to force the reactions of photosynthesis.
CONCLUSION
Our report supports the hypothesis that as the light intensity increases there is an increase in the oxygen production during photosynthesis of the Elodea.
As shown in the data collected in the graphs from the experiment, the distance between the lamp and the Elodea plant played an essential role in the rate of respiration. In an intact plant, the rate of O2 production was 6.994 when exposed to high levels of light at a distance of 25cm. However, when the plant was exposed to high levels of light at a distance of 75cm the rate of O2 production was 3.5188. This is partly because at 25cm the lamp exposes the chlorophyll in the plant to more light, which it is able to
absorb.
Biological energy needs essentially depend on the plant kingdom either indirectly through herbivorous prey or directly. Plants obtain the energy to produce food via photosynthesis. For this reason, during photosynthesis too much light intensity or too little light intensity can damage the plant. Hence, hindering its ability to grow and the produce leaves, stems, and roots.
References
Matthews, S. and Lindbeck, G. (2013). Photosynthesis.Unpublished manuscript, Valencia College, Orlando, Fl.
Professor Laurent
Photosynthesis. (2014). In J. B. Reece, L. A. Urry, M. L. Cain, S. A. Wasserman, P. V. Minorsky, & R. B. Jackson, Campbell Biology (Vol. I, pp. 185-209). New Jersey: Pearson.
M. Chauntise, S. Shaika, R. Shantal
INTRODUCTION
The sun plays a vital role in sustaining an entire living world whether indirectly or directy using a transformation process called photosynthesis. This process assists in nourishing plants and keeping them alive. For example, trees grow very tall in the rainforest where there is an abundance of water in order to reach as much light as they can. For this reason, in order to survive the chloroplast in plants must capture light energy from the sun and convert it into chemical energy that is stored in sugar and other organic molecules (Photosynthesis, 2014, p. 185). In plants that contain chlorophyll, the photosynthesis process splits H20, releasing oxygen, and storing the produced energy resulting from the chemical reaction inside a carbohydrate molecule. This is shown in the following equation for photosynthesis: Water + Carbon Dioxide (with the aid of chlorophyll and light energy) Glucose + Oxygen (Matthews & Lindbeck, 2013).
In addition, the rate of photosynthesis has varying factors, which among them include the amount of carbon dioxide present, the light intensity, and the type of organism. In this experiment, our aim was to investigate how the amount of light intensity affects …show more content…
the rate of photosynthesis in the Elodea plant. The expectation was that as the amount of light intensity increases (distance between the lamp and the elodea plant), so would the rate of photosynthesis (measured by the increased volume of oxygen produced by the elodea in 10 minutes).
MATERIALS AND METHOD
We carefully placed 8-10 pieces of Elodea (approx. 3-4 inches long) into a 250 mL Nalgene bottle filled with 200 mL of tap water containing a stir bar. Afterward we positioned the bottle in the center of the stir plate with a corner of the bottle facing the lamp that was 75cm away. Next, we turned on the stirrer and adjusted the speed to approximately 800 rpm to dislodge any gas bubbles released by the Elodea. We then placed the light sensor on the stir plate next to the bottle, facing the lamp and secured it with a piece of tap. After that the O2 (position one) and light (position two) sensors were plugged into the data logger and the parameters were changed one sample every 5 seconds for 600 seconds for 15 minutes in order to reach a constant rate of oxygen production (Matthews & Lindbeck, 2013).
To determine the effects of light intensity on the rate of photosynthesis we carefully inserted the 02 gas into the neck of the bottle, zeroed the sensor, and recorded (the slope of the regression line and therefore the rate of 02 release) data after an additional 10 minutes. We repeated these steps with the lamp at additional distances of 50cm and 25cm (Matthews & Lindbeck, 2013). The data recorded from this experiment were inputted in Figures 1 and 2.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The efficiency of photosynthesis can be measured by the rate of O2 production (see Figure 1). The rate of O2 production increases as light intensity or the distance between the Elodea and lamp decreased. This suggests that the rate of photosynthesis increases with light intensity. Alternatively, the power of the lamp, being somewhat subjective, is less accurate than using direct sunlight, which varies intensities. Figure 1
By altering, the distance of the lamp from 75cm to 50cm it slightly decreased the rate of O2 production. The light intensity provided from the lamps bulb also decreased. However, the modification to the lamps distance was not as extreme as going from 50cm to 25cm.
Figure 2
Similar results were observed in Figure 2. As you decrease from a high light intensity to a low light intensity, the rate of 02 production will decrease because there is not enough available light to force the reactions of photosynthesis.
CONCLUSION
Our report supports the hypothesis that as the light intensity increases there is an increase in the oxygen production during photosynthesis of the Elodea.
As shown in the data collected in the graphs from the experiment, the distance between the lamp and the Elodea plant played an essential role in the rate of respiration. In an intact plant, the rate of O2 production was 6.994 when exposed to high levels of light at a distance of 25cm. However, when the plant was exposed to high levels of light at a distance of 75cm the rate of O2 production was 3.5188. This is partly because at 25cm the lamp exposes the chlorophyll in the plant to more light, which it is able to
absorb.
Biological energy needs essentially depend on the plant kingdom either indirectly through herbivorous prey or directly. Plants obtain the energy to produce food via photosynthesis. For this reason, during photosynthesis too much light intensity or too little light intensity can damage the plant. Hence, hindering its ability to grow and the produce leaves, stems, and roots.
References
Matthews, S. and Lindbeck, G. (2013). Photosynthesis.Unpublished manuscript, Valencia College, Orlando, Fl.
Professor Laurent
Photosynthesis. (2014). In J. B. Reece, L. A. Urry, M. L. Cain, S. A. Wasserman, P. V. Minorsky, & R. B. Jackson, Campbell Biology (Vol. I, pp. 185-209). New Jersey: Pearson.