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Background & Hypothesis

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Background & Hypothesis

Uploaded by

bt5jw2rsv2
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
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Background

What is photosynthesis? ‘Photo’ means light and ‘Synthesis’ means to create, and

together it is to create with the help of light. Most commonly referred to within the

process of plants, photosynthesis is the process within plants to convert light energy

and carbon dioxide into oxygen and glucose. (David W. Lawlor, 1987)

6CO2 + 6H2O → C6H12O6 + 6O2

Carbon Dioxide + Water → Glucose + Oxygen

Its base reactants, light and carbon dioxide, and its environmental factors, like

temperature, all contribute to the rate of photosynthesis. These independent variables

are known as limiting factors. Limiting factors are variables that cause a change in a

chemical reaction, most commonly required to be at favorable conditions to maximize

the output. Light intensity is one of these limiting factors. Among many tests by

scientists, it is widely agreed and proven that light intensity has a positive correlation

with the rate of photosynthesis, meaning when light intensity increases,

photosynthesis increases as well. This relationship is the cause of plants' natural

requirement for light energy during photosynthesis. Light energy is used by the plant

to excite electrons in order to oxidize carbon dioxide into glucose. (Hall and Rao,

1994) Despite that, as the amount of light energy increases the plant can only utilize a

certain amount of it, until it reaches its maximum. However, in this investigation we

are going to challenge the consensus and test it on a specific plant species, Elodea

Canadensis, on account of the fact that it is easily accessible and testable. In a

freshwater environment, light intensity is low because of the lights’ diffusion through

the water’s surface. Compared to terrestrial plants, plants in a water medium have

lower levels of carbon dioxide and oxygen, less nutrients, and cooler, more regulated
temperatures. An Elodea Canadensis is a leafy submerged hydrophyte that is located in

bodies of water from North America, thriving in climates above 15°C. (Bowmer, K. H.,

Jacobs, S. W. L., & Sainty, G. R, 1995) It has specialized features that are the product of

its adaptation to the aquatic environment. Features include: delicate leaves to reduce

resistance to the movement of water, intracellular spaces filled with air throughout the

plant that serve as internal air passages for gas exchange, cavities of air to increase its

buoyancy to keep the plant upright in water, and a lack of mechanical and vascular

tissues and root systems to allow bending with the current of the water. How would

we quantify the rate of photosynthesis? Oxygen is a byproduct of photosynthesis,

released by the Elodea Canadensis’ air passageways through its leaves. When oxygen is

produced via photosynthesis a bubble is produced. The production of oxygen bubbles

among plants is the basis of measuring the rate of photosynthesis. Methods of

measuring the bubbles produced vary among tests. In other studies related to the

investigating limiting factors, scientists would measure the rate of photosynthesis by

measuring the length of the oxygen bubble (mm) that aggregates in a capillary tube.

(Hunt, S., 2003) In my investigation, I will be measuring by counting the amount of

bubbles released by the Elodea Canadensis, which may produce different results. A lab

report by Collier G, titled Investigation to ascertain the extent to which light intensity

is a limiting factor to photosynthesis proves the trend that the rate of photosynthesis

increases with increased light intensity, until it reaches a saturation point. The data

from this experiment shows that a lamp 0cm, 8 cm and 20 cm from the Elodea

Canadensis had an oxygen accumulation of 23mm, 27mm and 12mm respectively,

using a capillary tube. This shows that the increase in light intensity does in fact

positively affect the rate of photosynthesis, and proves there is a drop off when it

becomes saturated.
Hypothesis
If we increase light intensity (distance from plant)(±0.05 cm)(0cm, 5cm,

10cm, 15cm, 20cm) then the rate of photosynthesis (O2 produced)(±1) will

increase until a point of saturation because the light intensity will increase the

energy the plant intakes during photosynthesis and will output more oxygen

since it is a reactant for the chemical process, however it will be restricted by

the plants’ (Elodea Canadensis) limited amount of enzymes and cellular

machinery that can fully utilize all the energy. (Sorokin, C., & Krauss, R. W. ,

1958)

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