Bethany Overbaugh

Sharkey
Summer Lab
The Effect of Color Gels on the Rate of Photosynthesis
By applying a theater color gel to an electric light source, the rate of
photosynthesis will investigated through the use of an elodea plant.
In any theater production, technical aspects prove to be just as important as the
actors themselves in adding to the overall story and performance. Specifically, lighting
technicians play a special role in setting the scene and mood of the performance
through the choices they make through lighting. Different colors portray different ideas,
feelings and information and these technicians can change the entire feel of the
production by simply changing the color gel on the light. Color gels are colored,
translucent sheets that can be put on the front of a white light, changing the color of the
light as it is portrayed through the sheet. Different colors are commonly referred to by a
three or four digit number, depending on the company, based off of the visible light
spectrum and allow different amounts of light to pass through the sheet depending on
the intensity of the color. How would the different color gels affect the rate of
photosynthesis of an elodea plant? The darker the color gel, the slower photosynthesis
will occur, as the darker the gel, less light is let through the gel and transferred to the
plant. Although, the darker the color gel, the rate of photosynthesis will not slow down is
possible too.
All plants will be elodea plants. All water used will be from the same source. Use
the same type of electric light (same wattage on the bulbs.) All the light sources should
be equal distances from the plant. Light should be present for equal amounts of time
between all plants. All of these controlled elements ensure a greater degree of reliability
in the data and overall findings.
Three different shades of the same base color will be tested on three different
test subjects. For example, a navy blue, a royal blue and a sky blue. (3 different
samples) The different numbers of the color gels will serve as measurement for the
colors.
The rate of photosynthesis will be measured through the amount of carbon
dioxide in the plant water. When carbon dioxide is present in water, it affects the pH of
the water, lowering the pH. Therefore when the carbon dioxide is used up through the
chemical reactions involved with photosynthesis, the pH of the water should increase.
This should be measured with a pH probe to ensure accuracy and decrease human
error.
Materials:

 Four elodea plants

 pH probe
 Four beakers (500 mL)
 Four heat lamp shells
 Four plant light bulbs (60 watts)
 Three color gels, varying shades of the same color
o EX: LEE Filters, colors 200, 721, 713
 Tap water (300 mL per beaker)
 Clear adhesive tape
 Timer
Safety Precautions:

 Do not eat near lab station.

 Label all substances appropriately.
 Keep all electrical cords and wires away from water.
Procedure:
1. Gather all materials.
2. Screw lightbulbs into lamp fixtures that are 18 inches above the tops of the
beakers.
3. Tape each color gel to the mouth of the three lamps so that the color gel does
not touch the bulb directly, leaving one lamp without a color gel for a control.
4. Fill each beaker with 300mL of tap water.
5. Test the pH of the tap water and record in the data table.
6. Place the beaker under the light fixture, with the pH probe in the water.
7. Place the elodea plant in the water and start the timer.
8. Record the pH at 5 second intervals and record in the data table.
9. Repeat steps 4-8 for trials 2 and 3.
10. Repeat with the other three lights.
11. Record and graph all data on the charts the following page.
 Trial 1
Color Initial pH after 5 pH after 10 pH after 15 pH after 20 pH after 25 pH after 30
# pH sec. sec. sec. sec. sec. sec.
No
gel
200
721
713

Trial 2
Color Initial pH after 5 pH after 10 pH after 15 pH after 20 pH after 25 pH after 30
# pH sec. sec. sec. sec. sec. sec.
No
gel
200
721
713

Trial 3
Color Initial pH after 5 pH after 10 pH after 15 pH after 20 pH after 25 pH after 30
# pH sec. sec. sec. sec. sec. sec.
No
gel
200
721
713
 The Effect of Color Gels on the Rate of Photosynthesis
pH of Water

0.00
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Time (Sec.)

No Gel 200 721 713

As result of supplying four elodea plants with light that passed through color gels
typically used in theatric productions, it is true/(false) that the darker the color gel, the
slower photosynthesis occurred, confirming the alternate/(null) hypothesis. This is
because as the color gels get darker in color, become less translucent and they let less
light through. Since photosynthesis requires both light and dark to complete all
reactions, this is why the rate is slowed. The investigation could be improved upon by
completing more trials, and also using more plants. Also, the method upon testing the
rate of photosynthesis could be improved upon, through further research. This
investigation could be expanded upon by using other colors, aside from just different
shades of blue.