Aim: To investigate the effects of light intensity on the rate of photosynthesis.

Problem statement: How does light intensity affect the rate of photosynthesis?
Variables:
Manipulated variable: Distance of Hydrilla sp. from the light source (light intensity)
Responding variable: Number of gas bubbles released in one minute (rate of
photosynthesis)
Constant variable: Temperature of water and carbon dioxide concentration, type and size of
plant.
Hypothesis: The higher the light intensity, the higher the rate of photosynthesis.
Materials: A few strands of Hydrilla sp., 0.2% sodium hydrogen carbonate solution, distilled
water and plasticine.
Apparatus: A light source, a 60W bulb, a 500ml beaker, a test tube, a gas funnel, a
stopwatch, a razor, a thermometer, and a metre ruler.
Technique: Count and record the number of gas bubbles released in one minute. Measure
and record the time by using a stopwatch.

Procedure:
1. The temperature of water in the beaker is at 28 degree Celsius (figure 1).
2. A few strands of Hydrilla sp. are chosen.
3. A clean oblique cut is made with a sharp razor near the lower end of the Hydrilla sp.
stem under water.
4. The aquatic plant is placed with the bubbling end upwards, inside a glass filter funnel.
The funnel is placed upside down in a beaker that contains 0.2% sodium hydrogen
carbonate solution. The sodium hydrogen carbonate solution supplies carbon dioxide
to the Hydrilla sp.
5. A test tube filled with 0.2% sodium hydrogen carbonate solution is placed over the
filter funnel.
6. The apparatus is placed at a distance of 50cm from the light source.
7. After the plant releases bubbles at a constant rate, the number of gas bubbles
released in one minute is counted. This step is repeated twice.
8. Step 7 is repeated by placing the apparatus at different distances, that is, at 40cm,
30cm, 20cm and 10cm from the light source to obtain different light intensities.
9. The results are recorded in a table and a graph of the number of gas bubbles in one
minute against the distance from the light source is plotted.
Results:
Distance from the
light source (cm)

10

20

30

40

50

20

15

11

Number of gas
bubbles released in
one minute

Discussion:
1. What is the function of the sodium hydrogen carbonate solution in this experiment?
Sodium hydrogen carbonate supplies the carbon dioxide needed by the plant to carry
out photosynthesis.
2. (a) How are the different light intensities obtained?
Different light intensities are obtained by varying distance (d) between the plant and
the light source.

(b) What is the reciprocal of the distance ( d

The reciprocal of the distance ( d

is taken as?

is taken as the light intensity.

3. (a) What happens to the intensity of light when the distance of the light source and
the plant is further?
The further the distance between the light source and the plant, the lower the
intensity of light.
(b) What happens to the intensity of light when the distance of the light source and
the plant is nearer?
The nearer the distance between the light source and the plant, the higher the
intensity of light.
4. What does the number of gas bubbles released in one minute represent?
The number of gas bubbles released in one minute represents the rate of the
photosynthesis.
5. What happens to the rate of photosynthesis when the light intensity is lower?
The lower the intensity of light is, the fewer is the gas bubbles released in one minute
and therefore the lower is the rate of photosynthesis.
6. What happens to the rate of photosynthesis when the light intensity is higher?
The higher the intensity of light is, the higher the number of gas bubbles released in
one minute, and therefore the higher the rate of photosynthesis.
7. What is the limiting factor of this experiment?
The limiting factor of this experiment is the concentration of carbon dioxide.
Conclusion:
The rate of photosynthesis increases with the increase in light intensity but is limited by the
concentration of carbon dioxide. The hypothesis is accepted.

References:

Ching, L. (2008). Bilingual Biology. Shah Alam, Selangor Darul Ehsan: Arah
Pendidikan Sdn Bhd.
T. Balachandran, N. (2012). Express Biology Form 4. Pelangi ePublishing Sdn Bhd.
Othman, R. (2011, September 7). Photosynthesis (SPM). Retrieved October 13, 2016, from
http://cikgurozaini.blogspot.my/2011/07/photosynthesis-spm-level.html