Photosynthesis Virtual Labs

Photosynthesis Virtual Labs

Analysis Questions

1. Make a hypothesis about which color in the visible spectrum causes the most plant growth and which color in the visible spectrum causes the least plant growth?

If the color blue is absorbed the most by plants, then if we expose a plant to blue light it will grow the most.

If the color green is reflected by plants, then if we expose a plant to green light, it will grow the least.

2. How did you test your hypothesis? Which variables did you control in your experiment and which variable did you change in order to compare your growth results?

I tested my hypothesis by exposing identical spinach plants to different colors of light. We controlled the location, the size pot, the type of plant, and the amount of the light. We changed the color of the light.

Results:

Filter Color	Spinach Avg. Height (cm)	Radish Avg. Height (cm)	Lettuce Avg. Height (cm)
Red	18
Orange	14
Green	2
Blue	19
Violet	16

3. Analyze the results of your experiment. Did your data support your hypothesis? Explain. If you conducted tests with more than one type of seed, explain any differences or similarities you found among types of seeds.

Yes, the data supported my hypothesis, because the plant exposed to the blue light grew the most, (19 in.) and the green light was the least ( 2in.)

4. What conclusions can you draw about which color in the visible spectrum causes the most plant growth?

I can draw the conclusion that blue and red light cause the most plant growth, because in my experiment they grew 19 and 18 in, which was the most.

5. Given that white light contains all colors of the spectrum, what growth results would you expect under white light?

I would expect a plant under white light would grow an average height, in between blue and green.

• Question::  How does temperature affect the rate of photosynthesis in a plant?
• Hypothesis :: If plants normally grow at room temperature, then when the temperature is at 25 degrees celsius, the plant will grow the most.
• Experimental parameters (in other words, what is the dependent variable, independent variable, and control?)

The dependent variable is the rate of photosynthesis in the plant. The independent variable is the temperature of the water surrounding the plant. The control is room temperature (25 degrees celsius)

test number	temp	rate
1	10	8 bubbles/ 20 sec
2	25	22 bubbles/ 20 sec
3	40	18 bubbles/ 20 sec

In this lab we were observing the effect of temperature on the rate of photosynthesis in a plant. I found that at the temperature of 25 degrees celsius the rate of photosynthesis was highest. I knew this because it created 22 oxygen bubbles per 20 seconds, as opposed  to 8 oxygen bubbles per 20 seconds (10 degrees celsius)  and 18 oxygen bubbles per 20 seconds (40 degrees celsius). This makes sense because most plants survive at relatively normal temperatures, so when the plant is too hot or too cold the reaction slows. This data supports our claim because the middle temperature (25 degrees celsius) had the fastest rate, and the 10 and 40 degree temperatures were slower.

This lab was done to demonstrate the effects of external environments on the plant’s internal environment. From this lab I learned how temperature affects how a plant cell works, which helps me understand the effect of ph and temperature, like in the egg lab. Based on my experience from this lab,  I could further study the effects of global warming on a plant cell’s internal structures.