CORE PRACTICAL

CB6- Light Intensity and Photosynthesis

Learning Outcome- Revise the CB6 core practical all about light intensity and
photosynthesis by looking at the science behind it, explaining the method and
analysing results.

Your Task- You are going to use balls of jelly containing algal cells to investigate
photosynthesis in different light intensities. You can vary the light intensity by
altering the distance between a lamp and the algae. You are going to use
hydrogen carbonate indicator to monitor the change in pH of the solution in
which you placed the balls.

Starter Questions:
State the word equation for photosynthesis.
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Photosynthesis is described as an endothermic reaction. State what this means.

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Describe what is meant by the term ‘limiting factor’ and give three examples of limiting factors for
photosynthesis.
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Sketch and label a graph to explain how

the rate of photosynthesis would change
as the light intensity increased.
The Method:
A. Decide on the different distances
between the algae and the lamp Explain why:
you are going to use.

B. For each distance you will need

one clear glass bottle. You will also
need one extra bottle.

C. Add 20 of the algal balls to each

bottle.

D. Add the same amount of hydrogen

carbonate indicator solution to
each bottle, and put on the bottle Explain why:
caps.

E. Your teacher will have a range of

bottles showing the colours of the
indicator at different pHs.
Compare the colour in your tubes
with this pH range to work out the
pH at the start.

F. Set up a tank of water between

the lamp and the area where you Explain why:
will place your tubes. Take
extreme care not to spill water
near electrical apparatus.

G. Cover one bottle in kitchen foil, so

that it is in the dark.

H. Measure the different distances

from the lamp. Place your bottles
at those distances. Put the bottle
covered in kitchen foil next to the Explain why:
bottle that is closest to the lamp.

I. Turn on the lamp and wait until

you can see obvious changes in the
colours in your bottles. The longer
you can wait, the more obvious
your results are likely to be.

J. Compare the colours of all your

bottles with the pH range bottles.
Write down the pHs of the Explain why:
solutions in your bottles.

K. For each bottle, calculate the

‘change in pH/hour’.

L. Plot a suitable graph or chart of

your results.
 Dependent Variable Independent Variable Control Variables

Label the diagram below to show how the experiment is carried out:

Alternative Method-
Describe how you could
investigate the effect of light
intensity on the rate of
photosynthesis using the
equipment shown here.

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The Results:
Complete the results below by calculating the change in pH/hour:

Plot a suitable graph using the data collected:

Describe the trend shown by your graph. Exam Tip:
………………………………………………………………………………………………… Describe- Give an account of something,
or link facts, information, events or
………………………………………………………………………………………………… processes in a logical order.

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Explain the trend shown by your graph.

Exam Tip:
………………………………………………………………………………………………… Explain- Say how or why something
happens; ‘because’ will be an
………………………………………………………………………………………………… important part of your answer.

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Evaluate the practical and explain improvements that could

Exam Tip:
be made.
Evaluate- Look at the information in the
………………………………………………………………………………………………… question and bring it together to make a
decision and come to a conclusion
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with evidence from the question.

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Past Paper Exam Questions:

Q1.
A student placed some algal balls into each of five small glass bottles containing hydrogencarbonate
indicator.
Each bottle was sealed with a lid and placed at a different distance from a light source.
Hydrogencarbonate indicator changes colour due to the amount of carbon dioxide in the solution.
The investigation was left for 50 minutes and the colour of the hydrogencarbonate solution was recorded.
Figure 6 shows this investigation.

Figure 6
(i) State two variables the student will need to control in this investigation.
(2)
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(ii) At the start of the investigation the hydrogencarbonate indicator was red in colour.
Figure 7 shows the colour of hydrogencarbonate indicator in solutions that have different pH.

Figure 7
Explain why the hydrogencarbonate indicator in the bottle nearest to the light source turned purple.
(3)
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(Total for question = 5 marks)

Q2.
A scientist investigated the effect of light intensity on the rate of photosynthesis of the aquatic Cabomba
plant.
A lamp was used as a source of light. The lamp was placed at different distances (d) from the Cabomba
plant, and the number of bubbles produced in 60 seconds was counted.
The number of bubbles produced in 60 seconds was used to calculate the rate of photosynthesis.

The light intensity was then calculated using the inverse square law
Figure 10 shows the scientist's results.

Figure 10

(a) (i) Calculate the light intensity when the lamp is 25 cm from the Cabomba plant.
(2)

light intensity = ........................................................... arbitrary units

(ii) Use information from Figure 10 to describe the effect of light intensity on the rate of photosynthesis.
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(iii) Give another method of measuring light intensity rather than calculating it.
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 (iv) The scientist counted the number of bubbles produced by the Cabomba plant.
Another scientist stated that this was not the best method of measuring the volume of gas produced.
Explain how you could improve the method to measure the volume of gas released more accurately.
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(b) Explain what would happen to the levels of gas produced if the light intensity decreased to 0.0001
arbitrary units.
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(Total for question = 9 marks)