SUMMATIVE PHOTOSYNTHESIS LAB

Problem: If you double the distance of light, will the rate of photosynthesis
decrease.

Hypothesis: If the distance of light is doubled, then the rate of photosynthesis

will decrease by 50%.

Theory: Photosynthesis is the process when carbon dioxide and water is

converted into sugar and energy for a plant. For photosynthesis to happen you need 6 carbon dioxide molecules, 6 water molecules, and light energy. The plant photosynthesizes in the cell called chlorophyll. Plants get water from the roots and co2 from the stomata. The rate of photosynthesis will decrease by 50% because when the distance is doubled, the rate of photosynthesis will decrease by half. Shown by the 2012 data the average photosynthesis rate was larger when the lamp was 5cm away then when the lamp was 10cm away.

DATA/OBSERVATIONS:
Trial 1 0.6 grams
Small x 1 Distance 5 cm 9x1=9

Oxygen Produced in 3 minutes at 5 and 10 cm

Medium x 2 0x2=0 Large x 3 0x3=0 Total 9

10 cm

11x1=11

0x2=0

0x3=0

11

Notes: Trial 2 1.1 grams

Small x 1 Distance 5 cm 23 x 1= 23

Oxygen Produced in 3 minutes at 5 and 10 cm

Medium x 2 1x2=2 Large x 3 0x3=0 Total 25

10 cm

10 x 1 = 10

2x2=4

0x3=0

14

Notes: AVERAGES

Trial 1 Trial 2 Total Average

5 cm 9 25 34/2 17

10cm 11 14 25/2 12.5

2013 AVERAGE DATA IN 3 MINUTES FROM 6 DIFFERENT CLASSES Light Intensity

5cm/6cm CLASS PERIOD AVERAGES 1 2 3 4 6 7 TOTAL/6 AVERAGE 35 29 16.3 17 52.3 40.8 190.4/6 31.7 51.5 10 12.3 7.5 29.5 45 155.8 26 I 32.03 D 65.51 D 24.5 D 55.8 D 43.59 I 9.3 D 18.17 D 17.89 10cm/12cm % Oxygen Decrease/Increase

Average Data for the Distance of Light

Amount of Oxygen Produced in 3 minutes 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 Group 2 Period 3 7th grade 17 12.5 16.3 12.3 5cm 10cm 31.7 26

Conclusion:
In this lab we tested the rate of photosynthesis on an elodea plant when a lamp is at 5cm and when it is at 10cm for three minutes. I hypothesized that the rate of photosynthesis would decrease by 50% when the lamp distance is doubled. Our groups results showed a 24% decrease. My hypothesis was incorrect but compared with other periods my hypothesis is possible. For instance period 4 had a decrease of 55.8%. This indicates that the idea of photosynthesis decreasing is valid, however the percentage of decrease can vary.

Analysis:
Looking at the grade level data there were inconsistencies because some periods had much higher data then the others. Some possibilities for having higher percentages than others could be human factor, and environmental factor. For instance, a human factor could be an inconsistency in cutting the elodea or a variation of recording data. An environmental factor could be a change in natural light. This procedure could be improved by having each cut precisely with additional criteria. Secondly, if the experiment was in a controlled where light and water are consistent.

Bibliography:
Coolidge-Stolz M.D., Elizabeth, et al. Focus On Life Science. Boston, Mass: Prentice Hall, 2008. Washington State Department of Ecology. American Waterweed- A Common Native Plant. February 24, 2003. November 2013. <http://www.ecy.wa.gov/Programs/wq/plants/native/elodea.html> Young, Paul. The Botany Coloring Book. Cambridge, New York: Harper and Row, 1982.