Pan-Asia International School

Name: _____________________________________________ Period: ____ Date: _________

Waterweed Simulation Internet Laboratory:

Introduction: In this simulation, you will be looking at the rate of photosynthesis in the common water
plant elodea. The rate of photosynthesis is directly related to the amount of oxygen bubbles released
by the plant into the water. The more oxygen given off = faster rate of photosynthesis. Three factors
that influence the rate of photosynthesis will be adjusted in the simulator to determine how each of the
factors affects the rate of photosynthesis.

Prelab: Write the equation for photosynthesis:

Experiment 1: Affect of Light Level on Photosynthesis Settings: Light Level = Adjust to complete
the table, CO2 = 0.05 %, Speed = x1, Color of Bulb = colorless. Do two trials for each light level and
find the average number of bubbles.
Number of Bubbles Average #
Light level
(Light Color = Colorless & CO2 = 6.0 ) Bubbles
Trial 1 Trial 2
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
6.0
7.0
8.0
9.0
10.0

1. What is the independent variable (researcher controlling)? ____________________

2. What is the dependent variable (researcher measuring)? ____________________

3. What are the controlled variables? _________________________________________________

4. Based on the data, what light level results in the fastest rate of photosynthesis? ______________
5. What conclusion can you make from this experiment:
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Experiment 2: Affect of Carbon Dioxide on Photosynthesis: Settings: Light Level = 5, CO2 =

variable, Speed = x1, Color of Bulb = colorless. Do two trials for level and find the average number of
bubbles.

Number of Bubbles Average #

CO2 Level
(Light Color = Colorless & Light = 10.0 ) Bubbles
Trial 1 Trial 2
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
6.0
7.0
8.0
9.0
10.0

1. What is the independent variable (researcher controlling)? ____________________

2. What is the dependent variable (researcher measuring)? ____________________

3. What are the controlled variables? _________________________________________________

4. Based on the data, what carbon dioxide level results in the fastest rate of photosynthesis? __________

5. What conclusion can you make from this experiment:

_______________________________________________________________________________
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ANALYSIS: Write up a laboratory summary using complete sentences in paragraph form that
includes the answers to the following questions

1. Based on the simulation experiments, what factors can affect the rate of photosynthesis in a plant?
2. What are the bubbles you are measuring in this lab? Why do the bubbles tell you how fast
photosynthesis is occurring?
3. Why is it important that you keep two variables constant (such as light level and color) while you're
testing how a third variable (CO2 Level) affects photosynthesis?
4. What settings can you put the simulator on to get the MAXIMUM rate of photosynthesis?
5. What variable made the largest change in the rate of photosynthesis?
6. How can you relate your results to the equation for photosynthesis?