Alternate Photosynthesis

CAN ONLY BE completed with approval

Site 1: Glencoe Photosynthesis Lab

"Which colors of the light spectrum are most important for plant growth?"

(you can type "glencoe photosynthesis" into a google search to find this resource)

- Read the summary in the side bar which explains how colors of light affect plant growth.

- Read the procedure. Many of your tasks will be recorded in the journal which you will print out to turn in - there are 5 questions to answer in the journal, use complete, thoughtful sentences for each of these questions.

- You will also record your measurements in the table to be printed and turned in.

*Print your questions and tables to turn in. (Alternatively, your teacher may have printed this document for you)

Site 2: Photolab

http://www.kscience.co.uk/animations/photolab.swf (search for "kscience photolab")

This simulation allows you to manipulate many variables. You already observed how light colors will affect the growth of a plant, in this simulation you can directly measure the rate of photosynthesis by counting the number of bubbles of oxygen that are released.

There are 3 other potential variables you could test with this simulation: amount of carbon dioxide, light intensity, and temperature. Keep the light settings at white light (you already tested colored light in the last experiment.)

Choose one variable and design and experiment that would test how this factor affects the rate of photosynthesis. Remember, that when designing an experiment, you need to keep all variables constant except the one you are testing. Collect data and write a summary of your findings that includes:

Hypothesis or Experimental Question
Data table
Conclusions

*Type this document on a word processor and turn it in with your print-outs from Site 1.