Virtual Lab: Optimizing Photosynthesis
Virtual Lab: Optimizing Photosynthesis
Maria Diaz March 12,2012
Pre-Lab Questions 1. Which two variables are controlled in a similar manner?
The two variables that can be controlled in a similar manner are CO2 & the light level. 2. How can you get the results to the investigation faster?
You can get the results to the investigation faster by adjusting the speed at the bottom of the water weed simulation. 3. How will you be able to determine the rate of photosynthesis in this simulation?
One can determine the rate of photosynthesis in the simulation by the amount of bubbles in the water weed after the simulation is done. 4. Write the chemical equation for photosynthesis in the space below
The chemical equation for photosynthesis is
6CO2 + …show more content…
6H2O ------> C6H12O6 + 6O2
5. What gases do the bubbles that appear in the simulation represent?
The gas bubbles the appear in the simulation represent oxygen bubbles because the water weed takes in carbon dioxide and release oxygen because of photosynthesis. 6. Write a hypothesis for each of the controlled (or independent) variables in this simulation. Be certain to include both a statement of what you would expect the impact to be for each variable on the rate of photosynthesis (the number of bubbles appearing in a set period of time) and the reason it would have this impact.
a. Colour of light:
Plants are green because they reflect green light more than any colour on the colour spectrum, therefore if a plant is only exposed to green light it will reflect more than if it were placed under a red, white, or blue light making photosynthesis less efficient.
b. Level (or intensity) of light:
Photosynthesis is the structure of sugars using carbon dioxide and water. The energy for the process comes from light and a green pigment called chlorophyll allows the plant to transfer the energy from light to sugar. The light intensity determines the growth of the plant as well as other factors because without it no food would be made for the plant to consume.
c. Level of CO2:
The level of CO2 is important for the plant so that it can survive because that is the only gas that plants use to perform photosynthesis.
7. Describe how you would investigate the impact of different CO2 levels on the rate of photosynthesis. Include in your explanation any variables that would be kept constant and any that you would change.
Colour could be kept constant because it doesn’t have to change & the variables that can change would be the light level & the CO2 levels because they can change during the experiment.
Conclusion questions: 1. Write a conclusion discussing the impact of each factor on the rate of photosynthesis. In your conclusion, state what effect that factor has on photosynthesis, include evidence from your investigation, and explain why it would have that effect based on your knowledge of photosynthesis.
a. Colour of light:
The light effects the rate of photosynthesis because plants absorb different colours allowing faster process of photosynthesis. The white blue light I believe is the best type of light because that is a colour the plant absorbs unlike green light which it reflects.
b. Light intensity:
Depending of the intensity of light that was being tested if the light was brighter photosynthesis can be performed at a faster rate than if the intensity of the light was lower.
c. Level of CO2:
The higher the amount of CO2 there is in the stimulation the better the growth of the plant will be because the plant breathes in carbon dioxide and it waste is oxygen along with water. The more CO2 there is the faster the rate of photosynthesis will be.
2. A student wants to grow and sell ELODEA (the water weed) for people to use in their home aquaria.
a.
What conditions of light and CO2 (both colour and intensity) would you suggest this student use to optimize the growth of this water plant?
The conditions of CO2 and light that I would suggest a student to use would be blue light and having the CO2 levels at 7.5 along with the intensity of the light being at 7.5 also because this would allow the plant to intake good colours of the light spectrum and it would allow a good amount of intake of carbon dioxide and if the intensity of the light it strong than photosynthesis would move at a faster rate
b. Is there anything else the student would need to optimize growth? Justify your answer.
I honestly think that there is nothing else that the student would need regarding the light but maybe if he wanted to further on the investigation to optimize the growth of the water weed plant he could add minerals and protein to the water that id fundamental to the plant so it can grow faster and make it more healthy strong and durable for his clients.
3. Cutting down a large number of trees in the forested areas contributes to global climate change. What is one reason that cutting down trees would increase the greenhouse
effect?
Trees through photosynthesis absorb CO2 and release oxygen. Cutting down trees means burning them and creating more CO2 then there should be. Since the green leaves no longer suck in CO2 deforestation contributes to the global warming process. Deforestation means less trees, fewer tree equal to more carbon dioxide, more carbon dioxide leads to the greenhouse effect and the greenhouse effect leads to global warming. Then, the heat emitted by earth is imprisoned on earth, making it hotter than it should be, increasing global warming and becoming the foremost cause of greenhouse effect.
Data table 1: | Impact of the | Color of light | On the rate of | Photosynthesis | Run | CO2 | Light | Filter | Count | Run 1 | 2.0 | 2.0 | White(colorless) | 6 | Run 2 | 2.0 | 2.0 | Red | 4 | Run 3 | 2.0 | 2.0 | Blue | 6 | Run 4 | 2.0 | 2.0 | green | 2 |
Data table 2: | Impact of the | Light intensity | On the rate of | Photosynthesis | Run | CO2 | Light | Filter | Count | Run 1 | 2.0 | 3.0 | Colorless(white) | 9 | Run 2 | 2.0 | 3.5 | Colorless(white) | 9 | Run 3 | 2.0 | 4.0 | Colorless(white) | 10 | Run 4 | 2.0 | 4.5 | Colorless(white) | 12 | Run 5 | 2.0 | 5.0 | colorless | 13 | Run 6 | 2.0 | 5.5 | Colorless | 12 | Run 7 | 2.0 | 6.0 | Colorless | 15 | Run 8 | 2.0 | 6.5 | Colorless | 14 | Run 9 | 2.0 | 7.0 | Colorless | 15 | Run 10 | 2.0 | 7.5 | colorless | 15 | | | | | |
Data table 3: | Impact of the | Level of CO2 | On the rate of | Photosynthesis | Run | CO2 | Light | Filter | Count | Run 1 | 3.0 | 2.0 | white | 7 | Run 2 | 3.5 | 2.0 | White | 7 | Run 3 | 4.0 | 2.0 | White | 7 | Run 4 | 4.5 | 2.0 | White | 7 | Run 5 | 5.0 | 2.0 | White | 7 | Run 6 | 5.5 | 2.0 | White | 7 | Run 7 | 6.0 | 2.0 | White | 7 | Run 8 | 6.5 | 2.0 | White | 8 | Run 9 | 7.0 | 2.0 | White | 7 | Run 10 | 7.5 | 2.0 | white | 9 |
Maria Diaz March 12,2012
Pre-Lab Questions 1. Which two variables are controlled in a similar manner?
The two variables that can be controlled in a similar manner are CO2 & the light level. 2. How can you get the results to the investigation faster?
You can get the results to the investigation faster by adjusting the speed at the bottom of the water weed simulation. 3. How will you be able to determine the rate of photosynthesis in this simulation?
One can determine the rate of photosynthesis in the simulation by the amount of bubbles in the water weed after the simulation is done. 4. Write the chemical equation for photosynthesis in the space below
The chemical equation for photosynthesis is
6CO2 + …show more content…
6H2O ------> C6H12O6 + 6O2
5. What gases do the bubbles that appear in the simulation represent?
The gas bubbles the appear in the simulation represent oxygen bubbles because the water weed takes in carbon dioxide and release oxygen because of photosynthesis. 6. Write a hypothesis for each of the controlled (or independent) variables in this simulation. Be certain to include both a statement of what you would expect the impact to be for each variable on the rate of photosynthesis (the number of bubbles appearing in a set period of time) and the reason it would have this impact.
a. Colour of light:
Plants are green because they reflect green light more than any colour on the colour spectrum, therefore if a plant is only exposed to green light it will reflect more than if it were placed under a red, white, or blue light making photosynthesis less efficient.
b. Level (or intensity) of light:
Photosynthesis is the structure of sugars using carbon dioxide and water. The energy for the process comes from light and a green pigment called chlorophyll allows the plant to transfer the energy from light to sugar. The light intensity determines the growth of the plant as well as other factors because without it no food would be made for the plant to consume.
c. Level of CO2:
The level of CO2 is important for the plant so that it can survive because that is the only gas that plants use to perform photosynthesis.
7. Describe how you would investigate the impact of different CO2 levels on the rate of photosynthesis. Include in your explanation any variables that would be kept constant and any that you would change.
Colour could be kept constant because it doesn’t have to change & the variables that can change would be the light level & the CO2 levels because they can change during the experiment.
Conclusion questions: 1. Write a conclusion discussing the impact of each factor on the rate of photosynthesis. In your conclusion, state what effect that factor has on photosynthesis, include evidence from your investigation, and explain why it would have that effect based on your knowledge of photosynthesis.
a. Colour of light:
The light effects the rate of photosynthesis because plants absorb different colours allowing faster process of photosynthesis. The white blue light I believe is the best type of light because that is a colour the plant absorbs unlike green light which it reflects.
b. Light intensity:
Depending of the intensity of light that was being tested if the light was brighter photosynthesis can be performed at a faster rate than if the intensity of the light was lower.
c. Level of CO2:
The higher the amount of CO2 there is in the stimulation the better the growth of the plant will be because the plant breathes in carbon dioxide and it waste is oxygen along with water. The more CO2 there is the faster the rate of photosynthesis will be.
2. A student wants to grow and sell ELODEA (the water weed) for people to use in their home aquaria.
a.
What conditions of light and CO2 (both colour and intensity) would you suggest this student use to optimize the growth of this water plant?
The conditions of CO2 and light that I would suggest a student to use would be blue light and having the CO2 levels at 7.5 along with the intensity of the light being at 7.5 also because this would allow the plant to intake good colours of the light spectrum and it would allow a good amount of intake of carbon dioxide and if the intensity of the light it strong than photosynthesis would move at a faster rate
b. Is there anything else the student would need to optimize growth? Justify your answer.
I honestly think that there is nothing else that the student would need regarding the light but maybe if he wanted to further on the investigation to optimize the growth of the water weed plant he could add minerals and protein to the water that id fundamental to the plant so it can grow faster and make it more healthy strong and durable for his clients.
3. Cutting down a large number of trees in the forested areas contributes to global climate change. What is one reason that cutting down trees would increase the greenhouse
effect?
Trees through photosynthesis absorb CO2 and release oxygen. Cutting down trees means burning them and creating more CO2 then there should be. Since the green leaves no longer suck in CO2 deforestation contributes to the global warming process. Deforestation means less trees, fewer tree equal to more carbon dioxide, more carbon dioxide leads to the greenhouse effect and the greenhouse effect leads to global warming. Then, the heat emitted by earth is imprisoned on earth, making it hotter than it should be, increasing global warming and becoming the foremost cause of greenhouse effect.
Data table 1: | Impact of the | Color of light | On the rate of | Photosynthesis | Run | CO2 | Light | Filter | Count | Run 1 | 2.0 | 2.0 | White(colorless) | 6 | Run 2 | 2.0 | 2.0 | Red | 4 | Run 3 | 2.0 | 2.0 | Blue | 6 | Run 4 | 2.0 | 2.0 | green | 2 |
Data table 2: | Impact of the | Light intensity | On the rate of | Photosynthesis | Run | CO2 | Light | Filter | Count | Run 1 | 2.0 | 3.0 | Colorless(white) | 9 | Run 2 | 2.0 | 3.5 | Colorless(white) | 9 | Run 3 | 2.0 | 4.0 | Colorless(white) | 10 | Run 4 | 2.0 | 4.5 | Colorless(white) | 12 | Run 5 | 2.0 | 5.0 | colorless | 13 | Run 6 | 2.0 | 5.5 | Colorless | 12 | Run 7 | 2.0 | 6.0 | Colorless | 15 | Run 8 | 2.0 | 6.5 | Colorless | 14 | Run 9 | 2.0 | 7.0 | Colorless | 15 | Run 10 | 2.0 | 7.5 | colorless | 15 | | | | | |
Data table 3: | Impact of the | Level of CO2 | On the rate of | Photosynthesis | Run | CO2 | Light | Filter | Count | Run 1 | 3.0 | 2.0 | white | 7 | Run 2 | 3.5 | 2.0 | White | 7 | Run 3 | 4.0 | 2.0 | White | 7 | Run 4 | 4.5 | 2.0 | White | 7 | Run 5 | 5.0 | 2.0 | White | 7 | Run 6 | 5.5 | 2.0 | White | 7 | Run 7 | 6.0 | 2.0 | White | 7 | Run 8 | 6.5 | 2.0 | White | 8 | Run 9 | 7.0 | 2.0 | White | 7 | Run 10 | 7.5 | 2.0 | white | 9 |