INVESTIGATING THE EFFECTS OF LIGHT INTENSITY ON THE RATE OF

PHOTOSYNTHESIS

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Photosynthesis is a complex series of reactions catalysed by a number of different enzymes.

Photosynthesis can consider in two stages. The first stage is known as the ‘light-dependent
reaction’ because light is essential for them to occur. Chlorophyll absorbs light energy and
this energy is used to produce ATP. The energy is also used to split water molecules into
hydrogen and oxygen in a process called photolysis. Hydrogen ions, electrons ( from the
hydrogen part of water), and oxygen are released. Oxygen is a waste product of
photosynthesis.
The ATP, hydrogen ions and electrons are used in the light-independent reactions. ATP and
hydrogen ions and electrons are used in the second stage of photosynthesis, the ‘light-
independent reactions’. During the ‘light-independent reactions’, carbon dioxide, taken in
from the air, is combined with hydrogen and ATP to form a range of organic molecules for
the plant. The conversion of inorganic carbon dioxide to organic molecules such as glucose is
known as carbon fixation. ATP provides the energy for the process.
The series of reactions that occurs during photosynthesis is summarised as:

Carbon dioxide + Water Glucose + Oxygen

6C2 + 6H2O C6H12O6 + 6O2

The equation above shows that when photosynthesis occurs, carbon dioxide is used and
oxygen is released. The mass of the plant will also increase as glucose is used to produce
other plant materials.

Light intensity is one of the factors affecting the rate of photosynthesis. Other factors are the
concentration of carbon dioxide, temperature and to a lesser degree, water. Light intensity
directly affects the light-dependent reaction in photosynthesis and indirectly affects the light-
independent reaction.

Light is a limiting factor when the light intensity is too low to allow the light-dependent
reaction to proceed at its maximum rate. Light is not normally a limiting factor except for
plants in the forest understory of other shaded plants. Very high light intensities may slow the
rate of photosynthesis due to the bleaching of chlorophyll. However, plants exposed to such
conditions usually have protective features including thick, waxy cuticles and hairy leaves.
INTRODUCTION

To investigate how the intensity of light affects the production of glucose, through different
rates of photosynthesis. This will be done by putting elodea plants, of 8cm in a boiling tube
and adding water and Sodium hydrogen carbonate(which is added to the water to supply
carbon dioxide - a reactant in photosynthesis - to the plant), then leaving it in for 5 minutes
and, recorded number of bubbles seen. Calculate the average number of bubbles produced.

AIM

The aim of this experiment is to investigate the effects of light intensity on the rate of
photosynthesis by counting oxygen bubbles.

RESEARCH QUESTION

How does increasing light intensity affect the rate of photosynthesis in an elodea plant under
a fixed period of two minutes?

HYPOTHESIS

I predict as the light intensity increases; the rate of photosynthesis also increases. Plants
contain chlorophyll and if the light intensity increases, chlorophyll absorbs more light and the
photosynthesis rate (oxygen bubbles) increases as well. After some time, the number of
oxygen bubbles will remain constant.
.
Table 1 – Variables

Independent Variable
Dependent variable
Light Intensity/cm (10, 20,
30, 40 and 50 cm)
Rate of Photosynthesis/
Number of Oxygen
The distance between the
light source and the plant is
changed during the
experiment and measured by
the ruler.
 Bubbles
Controlled variables Room temperature/°C Temperature of the
(25°C) same during the experiment
and measured by the
thermometer. If the
temperature increases, the
photosynthesis rate
increases. After a period of
time enzymes will be
denatured and the
photosynthesis
rate starts to decrease.
Amount of water/ mL The amount of water
( 300ml) measured by the graduated
cylinder and used
200 mL water during the
experiment. Water is used in
photosynthesis. If the water
amount increases, then the
photosynthesis rate
increases. After some time,
the photosynthesis rate
remains constant.
Number of leaves Photosynthesis is affected
by the number of leaves
because plants consist of
chloroplast in their leaves.
Photosynthesis takes place
in the chloroplast and the
number of leaves will affect
the photosynthesis rate.
Colour of light ( white ) The colour of light is the
same during the experiment
and used the same light
source. The colour of light
affects the photosynthesis
rate. The wavelength
(colour) of light absorbed by
plant and the rate of
photosynthesis occurs at
each wavelength in a
different amount.
Time duration ( 2 min) The duration of the
experiment is controlled and
measured by the
chronometer. If the time of
the experiment increases the
oxygen bubbles released
more and it affects the result
of the investigation.
 Light source The light source is same
during the experiment. If it
is changed, the frequency of
light changed. It means that
light intensity can be
changed as well.

Materials

Water weed
Sodium hydrogen carbonate solution( 1%)
Light Source(A lamp with an LED bulb)
Boiling tubes
30 cm Ruler
Forceps
Timer
Scissors/scalpel

Procedure

1. Set up a boiling tube containing 1 gram of sodium hydrogen carbonate solution

(1%), and 300 cm3 of water. Allow the tube to stand for a few minutes and
shake to disperse any air bubbles that might form.
2. Cut a piece of the elodea plant. The plant should be 8 cm long.
3. Use forceps to place the plant in the boiling tube carefully. The plant should be
cut end uppermost.
4. Position the boiling tube so that the plant is 10 cm away from the light source.
Allow the boiling tube to stand for five minutes. Count the number of bubbles
emerging from the cut end of the stems in one minute. Repeat the count five
times and record your results.
5. Calculate the average number of bubbles produced per minute. Repeat the
experiment at different distances( 20,30 40 and 50) away from the light source.

Safety, ethical and environmental considerations

Safety
Do not touch lamp as it
might become hot and burn
your hand when you move
it.
Ethical Evirionmental
 Do not waste the  Make sure to dispose
sodium hydrogen of any waste carefully
carbonate solution and to prevent
carefully transferring it environmental
using the correct contamination.
instruments.

Raw Data: Quantitative Data

Raw Data Table 1: The number of Oxygen Bubbles According to the distance of the Light
Source
Distance/ cm Number of oxygen bubbles
( 0.05 )
Trail 1 Trail 2 Trail 3
10 12 11 13
20 10 13 8
30 8 7 7
40 6 9 5
50 6 4 6

Raw Data Table 2: Average of Number Oxygen vs Distance of Light Source

Distance/ cm ( 0.05 ) Average Number of Bubbles
10 12
20 10
30 7
40 7
50 5

Graph 1: Distance Against Number of bubbles

Analysis: If the distance between the plant and the source increases, then the light intensity
decreases. They are inversely proportional to each other. This is confirmed by the
information in Graph 1.

Qualitative Data: The number of oxygen bubbles counted by the observation. The bubbles
were shown clearly. There is no colour change or temperature change during the experiment.

EVALUATION OF LIMITATIONS
Table 3: Limitations and improvements
 Limitations
The number of bubbles counted by the
observation and some small bubbles cannot
be seen in the platform. Thus, it cannot be
counted as well.
Improvements
Measure the oxygen bubbles oxygen
sensor can be used. In addition, a gas
syringe can be used to collect the
volume of gas produced in this
experiment.

Light is a source of heat as well. Heat can Use of a glass tank between lamp and
affect the photosynthesis rate. Each distance plant to prevent heating of the plant, or
can affect the photosynthesis rate in a use an LED bulb that releases very little
different amount. heat energy

CONCLUSION

This experiment investigates the relationship between light intensity and photosynthesis rate.
As hypothesised, when the light intensity increases, the number of oxygen bubbles increases.

Consequently, the data is as follows:

According to Table 2, the photosynthesis rate is affected by the distance. For the distance of
10 cm, the number of oxygen bubbles is 12, 11 and 13. For the distance of 20 cm, the number
of oxygen bubbles is 10, 13 and 8. For the distance of 30 cm, the number of oxygen bubbles
is 8, 7 and 7. For the distance of 40 cm, the number of oxygen bubbles is 6, 9 and 5. For the
distance of 50 cm, the number of oxygen bubbles is 6, 4 and 6. The average of the oxygen
bubbles is 12, 10, 7, 7 and 5 as shown in Table 2.

The relationship between the rate of photosynthesis and the distance between the light source
and the plant is inversely proportional to the distance of the light source, as shown in Graph
1. According to the analysis, it can be said that the oxygen bubbles are less in 50 cm which
means that the light intensity is less in 50 cm. The rate of photosynthesis is more efficient in
the 10 cm because of the light intensity.

The anomalous data of this experiment are 2 where it is in the 2nd trial of the 20 cm and 2nd
trial of the 40 cm. It can be caused by the plant or carbon dioxide amount in the water.