Practical Skills – Potometers

1. The diagram shows a simple potometer which can be used to measure the transpiration of plants.

(a) Explain what is meant by the term transpiration.

Transpiration is the loss of water from the leaves of the plants through stomata.
The potometer was used to investigate the effect of humidity on the rate of transpiration of the leafy
shoot at two different wind speeds. The results are shown in the table.

relative humidity / arbitrary rate of transpiration / mm3 min-1

units low wind speed high wind speed
5 32 42
10 27 42
15 22 41
20 17 35
25 12 28
30 7 15
35 3 8

(b)(i) Explain how the potometer could be used to measure the rate of transpiration.
The rate of transpiration can be measured by using a simple potometer. The potometer is set
up underwater to avoid unwanted air bubbles in the xylem of the plant which may disrupt the
transpiration stream. All joints are sealed with petroleum jelly to make it as airtight as
possible. We’ll start by measuring the distance travelled by an air bubble in a capillary tube
over a given time. The faster the bubble moves, the greater the rate of water uptake and so
the greater the rate of transpiration.

(ii) Plot a graph to show the effect of relative humidity and wind Key: X-Axis – 20 small boxes= 5 arbitrary units
speed on the rate of transpiration.
Y-Axis – 10 small boxes = 4 mm3 min -1

(iii) Compare the effect of wind speed on the rate of transpiration at a low wind speed with high
wind speed

The rate of transpiration is less at a low wind speed compared to high wind speed. The air
removes water vapour which correspondingly increases the rate of diffusion of water vapour
from the leaf.
(iv) Explain the results of the investigation.
As the humidity increases, the rate of transpiration decreases. Humidity decreases the
concentration gradient between the inside and outside of the leaf which then reduces the rate
of transpiration. The higher the wind speed, the more the rate of transpiration as the air
removes water vapour constantly. The rate of transpiration is the lowest in higher humidity
and low wind speed.


1(c)(i) Explain why the volume of water lost by transpiration may not be the same as the volume of
water drawn up the capillary tube.
In the plant, respiration is constantly taking place which means that the water is being given
out. Not all of the water that is taken by the plant is used for transpiration. Some of it is used
by the cells to maintain turgidity. Photosynthesis requires water for the reaction to take place.
Thus, some of the water might be used for photosynthesis and the water lost by transpiration
would be less compared to the intake.
(ii) Explain what would happen to the rate of transpiration if the investigation were carried out at a
higher temperature.
The rate of transpiration will increase if the temperature increases because evaporation and
diffusion are faster at higher temperatures. Therefore, most of the transpired water will
evaporate causing more transpiration.
(iii) Explain what would happen to the rate of transpiration if the investigation were carried out at a
lower light intensity.
If the light intensity decreases, the rate of transpiration decreases. The stomata opens
narrower which allows less carbon dioxide into the leaf for photosynthesis. As photosynthesis
decreases, the amount of stored glucose in the guard cells decreases. This increases the water
potential of the leaf which means that less water enters the guard cells. The lack of pressure
on the guard cells leads to the closing of stomata. Thus, less transpiration.