Piciorus Ioan Andrei Light intensity affecting the rate of photosynthesis

Light intensity affecting the rate of photosynthesis

Aim of the experiment
The aim of the experiment was to observe and record the way in which light intensity influences the
rate of photosynthesis on a given species of pondweed.
Hypothesis
The hypothesis states that as an increase in the light intensity takes place, the rate of photosynthesis
increases. Plants produce their food through this process, by using light energy to synthesie sugars
and oxygen. The light energy is trapped in the green plant pigment chlorophyll. This is why, as the
light intensity is increased, the process is accelerated and therefore more sugars and oxygen are
produced. !owever, there is a relationship between light intensity and the rate of photosynthesis. This
will be reproduced in figure ". The figure presents the rate of photosynthesis for both #$ and #%
plants, in relation to temperature and light intensity.
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Graph representing the relationship between light intensity and the rate of
photosynthesis
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Light intensity
Piciorus Ioan Andrei Light intensity affecting the rate of photosynthesis
The shape of the graph can be explained by saying that #$ plants are adapted to low and moderate
levels of temperature and light intensity, whereas #% plants prefer hot and sunny environments. That
accounts for the decrease in the rate of photosynthesis of #$ plants after '(& of light intensity and
,(* in temperature. -n the other hand, #% plants increase their photosynthesis rate until "((& of light
intensity and %(* in temperature. After these values, the rate remains constant.
Variables
Dependent .umber of oxygen bubbles
Independent Light intensity )lux+, Distance from the light source )cm+
Controlled Time )minutes+, oncentration of !odium Hydrogen arbonate !olution
)&+, plant si"e )cm+, temperature )*#+, plant species )/railian pondweed+
Data collection
After the experiment was carried out, the following data was collected )table "+0
Data collection table
1ariables
2easurement
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Light
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A4 of light
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A4 9 Absolute 4ncertainty
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Piciorus Ioan Andrei Light intensity affecting the rate of photosynthesis
Data processing and presentation
:igure , is a plotted representation of the collected data0
:igure , is the plotted representation of the data collected. -n the x axis the light intensity is
presented, while the y axis contains the number of bubbles counted during the experiment.
onclusion and ,-aluation
The graph clearly shows that, as light intensity is increased, the rate of photosynthesis increases
)direct proportionality between light intensity and the photosynthesis rate ; identified by the number of
bubbles+. The figure includes a linear fit line and error bars for each value recorded. The values used
are the averages of every $ measurements from the same distance. According to the <
,
value
)coefficient of determination+, which is close to " )(.876+ the fit line fits the points with a relatively high
accuracy. =ithout considering the accuracy of the experiment, one can state that there is a linear
relationship between light intensity and the photosynthesis rate.
A comparison between figure " )hypothesis+ and figure , )data processing and presentation+ is
appropriate. In the case of the first one, for both #$ and #% plants the photosynthesis rate increases in
the beginning. After certain values of light intensity and temperature are reached, the photosynthesis
rate slows down or respectively remains constant. In figure ,, given the experimental limitations
present, the graph is limited to the first period of the cycle. 4pper stages of the process can be
reached by improving the experimental method )increase the light intensity, increase the
temperature+.
The accuracy of the experiment was limited by the following elements0
Light ; As the intensity of the light source was constant, the experiment re>uired the light
source to be moved away from the plant in order to achieve lower intensities. The problem
with this method is that the angle of the light beams was not constant, meaning either
horiontal or vertical. The intensity measurements are potentially wrong, as the angle of
measurement might have changed. The ambient light )laboratory illumination and external
sunlight+ were not kept constant during the experiment. This might explain variable number of
bubbles recorded at the same distance from the plant. 2oreover, in order to test the complete
theory of the influence of light intensity on photosynthesis rates, higher light intensities could
have been reached in order to determine if the rates slow down or remain constant.
o Applicable solutions0 during the experiment the room could have been darkened and
a light source with ad?ustable intensity could have been used.
Temperature . Temperature is also a factor that influences photosynthesis. In the case of
this experiment temperature was considered to be constant. @iven the environment where
the experiment was carried out, it is likely that significant temperature changes have occurred
)light exposure might have increased the temperature of the beaker and of the water inside+.
o Applicable solutions0 a light barrier can be used between the light source and the
beaker in order to reduce change in temperature.
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The relationship between light intensity and the rate of photosynthesis
Piciorus Ioan Andrei Light intensity affecting the rate of photosynthesis
/ubbles . The experiment assumed that the sie of the bubbles was constant. !owever,
even by looking at it, one could realie this was not true. This means that the amount of
oxygen is not necessarily in correlation with the number of bubbles.
o Applicable solutions0 The amount of oxygen released can be measured using a more
sophisticated techni>ue or apparatus.
After this analysis, the experiment can be considered as being relatively inaccurate, as most of the
measurements might be >uestioned and therefore considered imprecise. !owever, its aim is to
determine how plants ad?ust their photosynthesis rate to variable light intensities. In order to
determine whether the experiment presents a real situation, we could compare the results obtained
with published data related to the topic for the given plant )statistics, experimental results+. !owever,
the method and apparatus used by other researchers might differ )they might have recreated the
natural conditions of ponds or might have used a light source with the same wavelength as the sun
light+.
In conclusion, the experiment cannot be considered accurate, because there are uncertainties
)limitations+ one has do deal with. The results only partially confirm the scientific theory )the initial
phase of the process+. In order to prove it completely, a greater variation in factors must be
implemented and the method revised.
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