Investigating the Effect of Light Wavelength on the Rate of Photosynthesis

Investigating the Effect of Light Wavelength on the Rate of Photosynthesis

Plan

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Method

Take a 250cm3 beaker and fill it with distilled water. Use distilled

water so there are no impurities to disrupt photosynthesis. Then take

x cm's of elodia and put it in the beaker. Cover the elodia with the

large end of a funnel and the tip of the funnel cover with a test

tube. Then direct a light onto this experiment. Measure the amount of

bubbles that come from the elodia for x minutes.

A prediction for this experiment would be that as different

wavelengths are tested the rate of photosynthesis will either increase

or decrease. Photosynthesis will also speed up when the light is

lighter (yellow) than when it is darker (brown).

The equipment used, the same as above, will be a 250cm3 beaker, a

funnel, one test tube, distilled water, elodia and a light. To give

off different colours of light, see through coloured paper, as used in

theatres to cover lights, will be used. A counter could be used to

count the number of bubbles coming from the elodia. A new piece of

elodia needs to be used every time a new coloured light is used and it

must be the same length every time.

Many aspects must be taken into account during this experiment to make

it fair. The temperature must be kept constant. To do this no natural

light must get in and an average of temperatures must be taken at

different times in case it changes. The size of the plant used must

always be the same so it is a fair test. The intensity of the light

must always be the same so the power level must be the same and a new

bulb could be used each test so the filament in the bulb is always at

the same level at the start of each test. Carbon dioxide levels must

try and be kept level. This would be very hard to do with the range of

equipment given so we can only guess and hope it is at the same level.