INSTITUT PENDIDIKAN GURU MALAYSIA KAMPUS IPOH

31150 HULU KINTA KINTA, PERAK

SCES3373 GENERAL BIOLOGY

CONTINUOUS ASSESSMENT: TASK 2 PRACTICALS
PRACTICAL REPORT 1: STUDY THE FACTORS THAT AFFECT THE RATE OF
PHOTOYNTHESIS

Introduction:
** example
Photosynthesis is a physiological process (Gan, 2020). The rate of photosynthesis which takes
place in green plants is affected by factors such as light, ................................................ (Abdul
Malik, 2019). Light is essential during light reaction…… (Jones, Sylvia & Reeve, 2018). Carbon
dioxide is required in the dark reaction …………(Singer, Johnson, Raven & Morris, 2016). The dark
reaction of photosynthesis is catalyzed by enzymes. Thus, the rate of photosynthesis is affected by
carbon dioxide concentration……. (Gan, 2020)…..

A: Light Intensity
Problem statement: How does light intensity affect the rate of photosynthesis?
Objectives: to investigate the effect of light intensity on the rate of photosynthesis
Hypothesis: Answer the problem statement.
Variable(s):
i. Manipulated: (What you have to change?)
ii. Responding: (What are you going to observe?)
iii. Fixed: (The conditions remain the same throughout the practical work)
Materials: the substances that cannot be reused / recycled
Apparatus: the lab apparatus which can be reused like test tube, beaker….
Technique: What have you done in data collection? For example: to count number of …
Diagram of the apparatus setting: can take photo and need to be labelled.

Example:
Procedure: Write in past tenses
Example:
1. A 5 cm sprig from a Hydrilla plant is cut with a sharp scalpel.
2. The plant is placed with the cut end facing upwards in a boiling tube containing 0.2%
sodium hydrogen carbonate solution.
3. A paper clip is used to hold the other end of the Hydrilla sprig in place.
4. The boiling tube with the Hydrilla plant is placed in a water bath with the temperature
maintained at 28°C.
5. A 60-watt bulb is placed at a distance of 50 cm from the Hydrilla plant.
6. The number of bubbles released per minute from the cut end is recorded using a
stopwatch.
7. The steps are repeated at decreasing distances between the Hydrilla plant and the
light source for distances of 40 cm, 30 cm, 20 cm and 10 cm.

8. At each new distance, the Hydrilla plant is allowed to equilibrate for five minutes before
obtaining a new set of readings.
9. The results are recorded. A graph showing the number of gas bubbles released per
minute against the distance of Hydrilla from the light source is plotted.

Tabulation of the results:

** Example
Distance from the light source (cm) 10 20 30 40
Number of gas bubbles released in 5 minutes

Graph of The Number of Gas Bubbles Released in Five Minutes Against the Distancefrom the
Light Source

**Plot the graph based on the results, label the both axis X and Y. Use at least half
of a graph paper

Discussion: Explain the graph.

Conclusion: Base on the hypothesis

B: Temperature
Repeat the same format as above….

Diagram of the apparatus setting…..need to label

C: Carbon Dioxide Concentration

Repeat the same format as above….

Diagram of the apparatus setting:

Water with Sodium

hydrogen carbonate

Procedure…..example
1. A 5 cm sprig is cut from a Hydrilla plant using a sharp scalpel.
2. The temperature of water in the beaker is maintained at 28°C.
3. A 60-watt bulb is placed 30 cm away from the Hydrilla plant.
 4. A filter funnel is inverted over the hydrilla sp. in a beaker. The plasticine is placed
around the rim to stabilise it.
5. 0.1% sodium hydrogen carbonate solution is added into a test tube by using a glass
dropper and placed over the filter funnel.
6. The number of bubbles released per minute from the cut end is recorded by using a
stopwatch.
7. The steps are repeated at different concentrations sodium hydrogen carbonate
solution which is 0.2%, 0.3%, 0.4%, 0.5%.
8. At each new concentration of sodium hydrogen carbonate, the Hydrilla plant is allowed
to equilibrate for five minutes before obtaining a new set of readings.
9. The results are recorded. A graph showing the number of gas bubbles released per
minute against the concentration of sodium hydrogen carbonate is plotted.

Tabulation of the results:

(Example)

Carbon dioxide concentration Rate of photosynthesis (number of gas bubbles

(Concentration of sodium released per minute)
hydrogen carbonate) %

1st 2nd 3rd Mean

0.1 6 4 5 5
0.2 12 7 11 10
0.3 14 15 16 15
0.4 18 22 20 20
0.5 19 23 21 21
Discussion:
(Example)
1. The carbon dioxide required by the plant to carry out photosynthesis is supplied by
the sodium hydrogen carbonate solution.
2. Different carbon dioxide concentration is obtained by varying the concentration
of sodium hydrogen carbonate solution.
3. The number of gas bubbles released per minute is taken as the rate of photosynthesis.
4. The higher the concentration of sodium hydrogen carbonate solution, the higher the
carbon dioxide concentration. More gas bubbles are released per minute, showing
that the rate of photosynthesis increases.
5. The lower the concentration of sodium hydrogen carbonate solution, the lower the
carbon dioxide concentration. Lesser bubbles are released per minute, showing that
the rate of photosynthesis decreases.
6. The graph shows that the rate of photosynthesis increases linearly with increasing
carbon dioxide concentration.
7. The rate of photosynthesis falls gradually and at a certain carbon dioxide
concentration it stays constant. Increasing in carbon dioxide concentration has no
effect as the light intensity become the limiting factor.

Precautions:
1. Handled the glass equipment such as test tube and beaker with care.
2. Wear a safety google and gloves if necessary to avoid harmful irritants in contact
with the skin.

Conclusion:
The carbon dioxide concentration increase, the rate of photosynthesis increase.

References:
** example

Abdul Malik. (2019). Biologi Tingkatan 4. Petaling Jaya: Sasbadi Sdn. Bhd.

Gan, W.Y. (2020). Cells. Kuala Lumpur: Oxford Sdn. Bhd.

Jones, E., Sylvia, A. & Reeve, F. (2018). Biology. New Jersey: Longman Inc.

Singer, P., Johnson, J., Raven, M. & Morris, N. (2016). Biology. New Zealand: Pearson
Education.