Elodea Photosynthesis

I. Objective: How does the rate of photosynthesis affect the plant?

II. Background Research:

The Elodea plant (scientific names: Egeria densa, Egeria brasiliensis) has dark green leaves that become crowded toward the top. The Elodea plant grows in a variety of pond habitats but prefers to grow at the bottom of cool ponds. Elodea plants can remain green all winter long.

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Water is one of the factors that affect photosynthesis. A shortage of water can slow down or even stop photosynthesis. Temperature is also a factor. Photosynthesis depends on enzymes that function best between 0°C and 35°C. Temperatures above or below this range may damage the enzymes, slowing down the rate of photosynthesis. The intensity of light also affects the rate at which photosynthesis occurs. Increasing light intensity increases the rate of photosynthesis. After the light intensity reaches a certain level, the plant reaches its maximum rate of photosynthesis.

III. Hypotheses:

• If my plant was placed 5 cm in a lamp, the...

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...at the Elodea plant will produce the forth greatest amount of energy when it is placed 60 cm away from a lamp. My hypothesis was correct because the farther the lamp, the less light the plant obtains.

My final hypothesis was that the Elodea plant will produce no light when it is in a dark room. My hypothesis was correct because dark rooms have no light. Without light, a plant cannot perform photosynthesis.

VII. Discussion

A. Errors

• Not holding the glass tube properly

• Losing count

• Not starting the timer when you saw a bubble

• Putting the Elodea plant in the tube upside down

• Forgetting to crush the tip of the Elodea plant

• Putting the Elodea plant upside down

B. Improvements

• More trials

• Different plants

• Different bolt wattage

• Different distances from the plant to the light

• Wrapping silk over the tube

• Using different colors of light