PhotoLab+Questions

 ** Name: ** ** Lab: Photosynthesis **

**// Problem (Purpose of the Lab) //**  · Which conditions produce the best rate of photosynthesis?  · How do limiting factors affect the rate of photosynthesis?

**// Hypothesis: //**

**// Materials //**  · Photosynthesis Lab Gizmo  · Exploration Guide

**// Procedure //** See the Exploration Guide link within the Photosynthesis Lab Gizmo.

**// Observations //** ** Photosynthesis and Light Intensity ** ||  ||   ||   ||
 * 1. ||  a.  ||  What is the rate of oxygen production?
 * || b.  ||  What does this tell you about the rate of photosynthesis when no light is present? Explain your answer.
 * 2. ||  a.  ||  What happens to the rate of oxygen production as the light intensity increases?
 * || b.  ||  What does this tell you about the rate of photosynthesis as the light intensity increases?

Insert your Graph for oxygen flow vs. light intensity || ** Photosynthesis and Carbon Dioxide Level ** ||  ||   ||  b.  ||  What happens when the CO2 level exceeds 3%? Insert your graph for oxygen flow vs. carbon dioxide level || ** Photosynthesis and Temperature ** ||  ||   ||  Insert your graph for oxygen flow vs. temperature || ** Photosynthesis and Colour ** ||  ||   || ** Extension Activity: Limiting Factors ** 1.   a. Increase light intensity to 50%. Did this have any effect on the oxygen production? Why do you think this is? b. Set the light intensity back to 30%. Now, slowly increase the temperature to 25C. Did this have any effect on the oxygen production? c. Set the temperature back to 20C. Now, increase the CO2 level to 3.0%. Did this affect the oxygen production? Why do you think this is? d. Set the CO2 level back to 2.0%. In this situation, what do you think was the limiting factor? Explain your reasoning. (HINT: If changing a particular factor increased the oxygen production, then that was the limiting factor.)  2. Experiment with the Gizmo to find other examples of limiting factors. In what conditions is light intensity a limiting factor? Temperature?  3. Suppose you were growing aquatic plants for sale. What are the ideal values for temperature, light intensity, CO 2 level, and wavelength? Experiment with the Gizmo to answer this question. If possible, compare your findings to those of your classmates.
 * || c.  ||  Does increasing light intensity always have the same effect on oxygen production? In other words, are there certain light intensity changes that have no effect at all? Describe what you see?
 * 1. ||||  What is the rate of oxygen production when there is no carbon dioxide available?
 * 2. ||  a.  ||  What happens to the rate of oxygen production as the CO2 level increases?
 * 1. ||  a.  ||  What is the oxygen production when the water temperature is 0.0ºC?
 * || b.  ||  What does this tell you about the rate of photosynthesis when the temperature is 0.0ºC?
 * 2. ||  a.  ||  What happens to the rate of oxygen production as temperature is increased?
 * || b.  ||  What happens to the rate of oxygen production when the temperature exceeds 25ºC?
 * 1. ||||  What happens to the rate of oxygen production as you change the wavelength of the light?
 * 2. ||  a.  ||  Which two colours and wavelengths resulted in the highest rates of photosynthesis?
 * || b.  ||  Which colour and wavelength led to the lowest rate of photosynthesis?