Unit 6 ; investigative project
Assignment title ; project implementation and review
Introduction
For my unit 6 coursework I will be researching about the Different factors
affecting the rate of photosynthesis
Learning aim A; undertake a literature research and review to produce an investigative
project proposal
Literature review
What is photosynthesis - [1]
Photosynthesis is the process where plants absorb light energy from the sun and
convert it to form chemical energy. CO2 collected from the air into the plant and
water from the soil collected up by the plants roots are all converted to form
glucose and oxygen in which light energy is used to drive the process.
CO2 + Water = glucose + oxygen
oxygen is a by - product and is diffused out of the plant cell.
Glucose is converted and used in the plant cell as it provides ATP for the cells in
the plant that require it. Glucose is also useful as it also forms starch used for
plants' food source and cellulose which helps to strengthen and create the plants
cell wall.
How are plant leaves adapted for photosynthesis - [2]
Plant leaves have many adaptations which allow for photosynthesis to occur.
One adaptation they have is a large surface
area. This allows for more light energy to be
absorbed by the plant therefore more glucose
can be produced.
Plant leaves also contain a stomata to allow
oxygen to leave the cell and allow CO2 to
diffuse out of the plant cell.
They also have thin walls which provide a
short diffusion pathway for CO2 to enter into
the plant cell.
Furthermore they also have chlorophyll which
absorbs as much sunlight as possible to therefore produce glucose and oxygen.
,Lastly the plant cell also consists of a network of veins which allow for more
water and minerals to be transported up from the soil to the plants roots
Structure of a leaf cell - [3]
Upper epidermis
It enables more light to reach the leaf
into the palisade cells as well as prevent
the loss of water in the leaf.
Lower epidermis
Contains stomata which allow CO2 to
diffuse into the cell and oxygen to diffuse
out of the leaf cell.
Guard cells
Control the opening and closure in gas
exchange in the stomata between CO2
and oxygen
Spongy mesophyll
allows CO2 to enter the leaf cells needed for the photosynthesis
Cuticle
provides protection for the leaf from radiation, harsh weathers, pathogens
Palisade mesophyll
Allows as much light to be absorbed need to carry out the process of
photosynthesis it also contains chloroplast to further aid in photosynthesis
Factors affecting the rate of photosynthesis - [4]
Temperature
As the temperature increases the rate of photosynthesis increases as well as
due to the number of collisions between molecules increasing. However as the
temperature continues increasing the rate of photosynthesis reaches a maximum
temperature of 45C in which as the temperatures increases past 45C it
demonstrates how the denaturing of enzymes occur due to the breakage of
bonds in the enzyme structure causing the rate of photosynthesis to decrease
,Light intensity
As the light intensity increases the rate of photosynthesis increases due to
chloroplast trapping more light essential to drive the process of photosynthesis
however as the maximum amount of light intensity trapped by chloroplasts is
reached the rate of photosynthesis will not increase any further as no more light
energy will enter the leaf cell
,Carbon dioxide
As the CO2 concentration increases the rate of photosynthesis will increase due
to more CO2 and water able to react together however as the the co2
concentration increase the rate of photosynthesis will not increase as it is not a
limiting factor anymore in which temperature or light becomes the new limiting
factor
B; produce a plan for an investigative project based on the proposal
,Research proposal
Photosynthesis is an essential process whereby plants are required to go
through. This is where plants take in CO2 and water and convert into oxygen and
glucose by adding sunlight needed for plant growth. Without photosynthesis
plants would not be able to grow in which overtime will eventually rot/decay.
There are various factors that affect the rate of photosynthesis. These factors
include temperature, light intensity, and carbon dioxide concentration. The factor
I will be analyzing for my investigation will be light intensity how it affects the rate
of photosynthesis
Research rationale
The reason i will be assessing various factors affecting the rate of
photosynthesis as it demonstrates how im intrigued into wanting find out how
these factors can either decrease or increase the amount of photosynthesis
products such as glucose and oxygen in which glucose produced is vital for
plants as it be can be used to store energy in plants to allow plant to continue
living as well as can be used to make starch which is food source for plants as
well as cellulose in which a reduction in glucose formed can lead to the slow
decline of the plant
Hypothesis
As the light intensity increases the rate of photosynthesis will also increase as it
shows how the chloroplasts can trap more light vital to drive the reaction of
photosynthesis causing more bubbles of oxygen to be produced in which is a
photosynthesis product however as light intensity increase to very high levels it
demonstrates how it results in damage to chlorophyll causing photosynthesis to
decrease due to less light being absorbed by the chlorophyll
, Variables
Independent variable - distance of lamp (light source)
Dependent variable - amount of bubbles of oxygen produced
Control variable - volume of hydrocarbonate solution, size of pondweed
Research aim - to analyze how distances of the light intensity affects how much
bubbles of oxygen is produced per minute
Results[6]
From the results it shows how as the distance from lamp light source to the
pondweed decreases it demonstrates how the number of bubbles of oxygen
produced per minute also decreases. In the graph it shows how 120 bubbles of
oxygen are produced when the light source lamp is 10 cm away from the beaker
of water containing pondweed. As The distance between the lamp light source
and beaker of water containing the pondweed is 15 cm away it shows how 60
bubbles of oxygen is produced as the distance between the lamp light source
and the beaker of water containing pondweed further decreases at 20 cm it
suggests how 40 bubbles of oxygen is produced. Lastly it demonstrates how as
the distance of lamp source moves further away from the beaker containing
pondweed reaching 30 cm away it shows how 20 bubbles of oxygen is produced
Assignment title ; project implementation and review
Introduction
For my unit 6 coursework I will be researching about the Different factors
affecting the rate of photosynthesis
Learning aim A; undertake a literature research and review to produce an investigative
project proposal
Literature review
What is photosynthesis - [1]
Photosynthesis is the process where plants absorb light energy from the sun and
convert it to form chemical energy. CO2 collected from the air into the plant and
water from the soil collected up by the plants roots are all converted to form
glucose and oxygen in which light energy is used to drive the process.
CO2 + Water = glucose + oxygen
oxygen is a by - product and is diffused out of the plant cell.
Glucose is converted and used in the plant cell as it provides ATP for the cells in
the plant that require it. Glucose is also useful as it also forms starch used for
plants' food source and cellulose which helps to strengthen and create the plants
cell wall.
How are plant leaves adapted for photosynthesis - [2]
Plant leaves have many adaptations which allow for photosynthesis to occur.
One adaptation they have is a large surface
area. This allows for more light energy to be
absorbed by the plant therefore more glucose
can be produced.
Plant leaves also contain a stomata to allow
oxygen to leave the cell and allow CO2 to
diffuse out of the plant cell.
They also have thin walls which provide a
short diffusion pathway for CO2 to enter into
the plant cell.
Furthermore they also have chlorophyll which
absorbs as much sunlight as possible to therefore produce glucose and oxygen.
,Lastly the plant cell also consists of a network of veins which allow for more
water and minerals to be transported up from the soil to the plants roots
Structure of a leaf cell - [3]
Upper epidermis
It enables more light to reach the leaf
into the palisade cells as well as prevent
the loss of water in the leaf.
Lower epidermis
Contains stomata which allow CO2 to
diffuse into the cell and oxygen to diffuse
out of the leaf cell.
Guard cells
Control the opening and closure in gas
exchange in the stomata between CO2
and oxygen
Spongy mesophyll
allows CO2 to enter the leaf cells needed for the photosynthesis
Cuticle
provides protection for the leaf from radiation, harsh weathers, pathogens
Palisade mesophyll
Allows as much light to be absorbed need to carry out the process of
photosynthesis it also contains chloroplast to further aid in photosynthesis
Factors affecting the rate of photosynthesis - [4]
Temperature
As the temperature increases the rate of photosynthesis increases as well as
due to the number of collisions between molecules increasing. However as the
temperature continues increasing the rate of photosynthesis reaches a maximum
temperature of 45C in which as the temperatures increases past 45C it
demonstrates how the denaturing of enzymes occur due to the breakage of
bonds in the enzyme structure causing the rate of photosynthesis to decrease
,Light intensity
As the light intensity increases the rate of photosynthesis increases due to
chloroplast trapping more light essential to drive the process of photosynthesis
however as the maximum amount of light intensity trapped by chloroplasts is
reached the rate of photosynthesis will not increase any further as no more light
energy will enter the leaf cell
,Carbon dioxide
As the CO2 concentration increases the rate of photosynthesis will increase due
to more CO2 and water able to react together however as the the co2
concentration increase the rate of photosynthesis will not increase as it is not a
limiting factor anymore in which temperature or light becomes the new limiting
factor
B; produce a plan for an investigative project based on the proposal
,Research proposal
Photosynthesis is an essential process whereby plants are required to go
through. This is where plants take in CO2 and water and convert into oxygen and
glucose by adding sunlight needed for plant growth. Without photosynthesis
plants would not be able to grow in which overtime will eventually rot/decay.
There are various factors that affect the rate of photosynthesis. These factors
include temperature, light intensity, and carbon dioxide concentration. The factor
I will be analyzing for my investigation will be light intensity how it affects the rate
of photosynthesis
Research rationale
The reason i will be assessing various factors affecting the rate of
photosynthesis as it demonstrates how im intrigued into wanting find out how
these factors can either decrease or increase the amount of photosynthesis
products such as glucose and oxygen in which glucose produced is vital for
plants as it be can be used to store energy in plants to allow plant to continue
living as well as can be used to make starch which is food source for plants as
well as cellulose in which a reduction in glucose formed can lead to the slow
decline of the plant
Hypothesis
As the light intensity increases the rate of photosynthesis will also increase as it
shows how the chloroplasts can trap more light vital to drive the reaction of
photosynthesis causing more bubbles of oxygen to be produced in which is a
photosynthesis product however as light intensity increase to very high levels it
demonstrates how it results in damage to chlorophyll causing photosynthesis to
decrease due to less light being absorbed by the chlorophyll
, Variables
Independent variable - distance of lamp (light source)
Dependent variable - amount of bubbles of oxygen produced
Control variable - volume of hydrocarbonate solution, size of pondweed
Research aim - to analyze how distances of the light intensity affects how much
bubbles of oxygen is produced per minute
Results[6]
From the results it shows how as the distance from lamp light source to the
pondweed decreases it demonstrates how the number of bubbles of oxygen
produced per minute also decreases. In the graph it shows how 120 bubbles of
oxygen are produced when the light source lamp is 10 cm away from the beaker
of water containing pondweed. As The distance between the lamp light source
and beaker of water containing the pondweed is 15 cm away it shows how 60
bubbles of oxygen is produced as the distance between the lamp light source
and the beaker of water containing pondweed further decreases at 20 cm it
suggests how 40 bubbles of oxygen is produced. Lastly it demonstrates how as
the distance of lamp source moves further away from the beaker containing
pondweed reaching 30 cm away it shows how 20 bubbles of oxygen is produced
