AP BIOLOGY Photosynthesis Worksheet
1. What is the overall reaction for photosynthesis?
6 CO2 + 6 H2O glucose (C6H12O6) + 6 O2
2. How does this compare to the overall reaction for cellular
respiration?
It is the reverse of the overall reaction for cellular respiration.
3. Where does the energy for photosynthesis come from?
from sunlight
4. What plant pigments are involved
in photosynthesis? chlorophyll a,
chlorophyll b, and carotenoids
5. Explain why chlorophyll appears green to us in terms of what
happens to different wavelengths of light that strike a chlorophyll
molecule.
We see light that bounces off of objects (reflected light). Chlorophyll
is best at trapping and absorbing the red – orange wavelengths of
light and the blue, indigo, and violet wavelengths of light. It is not
good at absorbing the green wavelengths. The green light is reflected,
so it is the part we see. Therefore, chlorophyll looks green to us.
6. How does the amount of energy in light change as the wavelength
increases?
As wavelength increases, amount of energy decreases. Thus, violet
light (which has a shorter wavelength) has more energy that red light
(which has a longer wavelenth).
1. What is the overall reaction for photosynthesis?
6 CO2 + 6 H2O glucose (C6H12O6) + 6 O2
2. How does this compare to the overall reaction for cellular
respiration?
It is the reverse of the overall reaction for cellular respiration.
3. Where does the energy for photosynthesis come from?
from sunlight
4. What plant pigments are involved
in photosynthesis? chlorophyll a,
chlorophyll b, and carotenoids
5. Explain why chlorophyll appears green to us in terms of what
happens to different wavelengths of light that strike a chlorophyll
molecule.
We see light that bounces off of objects (reflected light). Chlorophyll
is best at trapping and absorbing the red – orange wavelengths of
light and the blue, indigo, and violet wavelengths of light. It is not
good at absorbing the green wavelengths. The green light is reflected,
so it is the part we see. Therefore, chlorophyll looks green to us.
6. How does the amount of energy in light change as the wavelength
increases?
As wavelength increases, amount of energy decreases. Thus, violet
light (which has a shorter wavelength) has more energy that red light
(which has a longer wavelenth).
