Name: ________________

Limiting Factors

1. The diagram shows the apparatus used to investigate the effect of light intensity on the rate
of photosynthesis.

a How would the light intensity be varied?

(1 mark)
b Suggest a suitable control for the investigation.

(1 mark)

c State two factors that should be kept constant if this is to be a fair test.

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(2 marks)
d The rate of photosynthesis was measured by counting the number of bubbles released into
the test tube every 5 minutes. The results obtained are shown below.

RATE OF
LIGHT INTENSITY PHOTOSYNTHESIS
/arbitrary units /number of bubbles
per 5 minute period
0 1
10 8
20 15
30 23
40 30
50 37
60 43
70 44
80 44

i Plot a graph of these results.

 (5 marks)

ii Use your graph to find the number of bubbles given off in a 5 minute period at a light
intensity of 35 units.

(2 marks)

iii Describe the relationship between light intensity and rate of photosynthesis. Explain this
relationship.

(4 marks)

iv Suggest two ways in which the bubbles of gas differ from normal atmospheric air.
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(2 marks)

v Suggest one way in which the results of the experiment could be made more reliable.

(1 mark)

e. Two students remembered that the school aquarium had red-coloured lighting. They were
interested in whether the colour (wavelength) of light would affect the rate of
photosynthesis. Describe an experiment that they could carry out to test the hypothesis that
‘colour of light affects the rate of photosynthesis’. Name the input variable, the outcome
variable and any fixed variables in their experiment.

(5 marks)