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OE 8

Photosynthesis Simulation

Name:

You will be examining photosynthesis in an aquatic plant using dissolved oxygen.

Go to the cell energy simulation at Biology Simulations.

I. Background
Plants perform both photosynthesis and cellular respiration.

1. How will photosynthesis affect oxygen levels?

Photosynthesis will increase oxygen levels

2. How will cellular respiration affect oxygen levels?

During all of the aerobic cellular respiration, the glucose reacts with oxygen and forms
ATP that is able to be used by the cell

II. Light Intensity

Experimental Question: How does light intensity affect oxygen production?

1. Write your hypothesis.

Hypothesis: The more intense the light, the greater the oxygen production.

2. Set the fish number to 0 and the plant number to 5. Leave the other variables at the
default values (25 degrees, white light).
3. Set the light intensity to 100%.
4. Record the starting and ending oxygen values.
5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 for 80%, 60%, 40%, and 20%.
6. Calculate and record the DO difference.
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Light Intensity (%) DO Start DO End DO Difference

100 7 9 2

80 7 8 1

60 7 7 0

40 7 6 -1

20 7 6 -1

7. Insert a graph (use Sheets or another spreadsheet program) displaying how light
intensity affects changes in DO.

8. Write a sentence conclusion.

As anticipated, an increase in light intensity results in a higher production of oxygen. This is due to the
fact that photosynthesis requires three essential elements to initiate the process: water, light, and
CO2. Water undergoes oxidation, leading to the generation of oxygen, which the plant releases. The
role of light is crucial in initiating the entire reaction. Therefore, it is logical to conclude that a higher
amount of reactants leads to a greater yield of products. As anticipated, an increase in light intensity
results in a higher production of oxygen. This is due to the fact that photosynthesis requires three
essential elements to initiate the process: water, light, and CO2. Water undergoes oxidation, leading
to the generation of oxygen, which the plant releases. The role of light is crucial in initiating the entire
reaction. Therefore, it is logical to conclude that a higher amount of reactants leads to a greater yield
of products.
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9. Write a paragraph explaining your conclusion in terms of the process of photosynthesis.

The process of photosynthesis is significantly influenced by light intensity. Light serves as a crucial
factor in driving the photosynthetic reactions within plant cells. During photosynthesis, light energy is
absorbed by chlorophyll, a green pigment in plant cells, and is used to convert carbon dioxide and
water into glucose and oxygen. Higher light intensity provides more energy for this conversion
process, leading to increased rates of photosynthesis. However, there is an optimal light intensity for
photosynthesis, beyond which the rate may plateau or even decline due to other limiting factors such
as the availability of carbon dioxide or temperature. Therefore, understanding the impact of light
intensity on photosynthesis is essential for optimizing plant growth and productivity in various
environments.

III. Light Color

Experimental Question: How does light color affect oxygen production?

1. Write your hypothesis.

Hypothesis: The yellow and green lights will produce less oxygen than the other colors.

2. Set the fish number to 0 and the plant number to 5. Leave the other variables at the
default values (100% light intensity, 25 degrees).
3. Set the light color to white (combination of all wavelengths/colors).
4. Record the starting and ending oxygen values.
5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 for violet, blue, green, yellow, orange, and red light.
6. Calculate and record the DO difference.

Light Color DO Start DO End DO Difference

White 7 9 2

Violet 7 7.5 .5
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Blue 7 7.5 .5

Green 7 6 -1

Yellow 7 6 -1

Orange 7 7 0

Red 7 7.3 .3

7. Insert a graph (use Sheets or another spreadsheet program) displaying how light color
affects changes in DO.

8. Write a sentence conclusion.

Chlorophyll a and b absorb blue and red lights better than green and yellow, so when exposed to only
those colors, the chloroplast was not able to begin the photosynthesis process, because it can’t
absorb the necessary energy

9. Write a paragraph explaining your conclusion in terms of the process of photosynthesis.

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Color plays a pivotal role in influencing the process of photosynthesis, primarily through the
absorption of light by pigments within plant cells. Chlorophyll, the predominant pigment responsible
for capturing light energy, absorbs light most efficiently in the red and blue regions of the
electromagnetic spectrum. Consequently, plants appear green because chlorophyll reflects green
light. The availability of light in specific wavelengths directly affects the rate of photosynthesis.
Different pigments, such as carotenoids and xanthophylls, also contribute to light absorption in
various regions of the spectrum. In essence, the color of light influences the efficiency of
photosynthesis, with plants thriving when exposed to light that corresponds to the absorption peaks
of their pigments. This understanding is crucial for optimizing artificial lighting conditions in controlled
environments like greenhouses and for comprehending the adaptations of plants to their natural
habitats.

IV. Temperature
Experimental Question: How does temperature affect oxygen production?

1. Write your hypothesis.

Hypothesis: there is an optimal temperature range for photosynthesis in plants, and deviations from
this range will negatively impact the process.

2. Set the fish number to 0 and the plant number to 5. Leave the other variables at the
default values (100% light intensity, white light).
3. Set the temperature to 15 degrees.
4. Record the starting and ending oxygen values.
5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 for 20, 25, 30, and 35 degrees.
6. Calculate and record the DO difference.

Temperature (C) DO Start DO End DO Difference

15 7.5 8.5 1

20 7.25 9 1.75

25 7 9 2

30 6.5 8 1.5

35 6 6.5 .5

7. Insert a graph (use Sheets or another spreadsheet program) displaying how

temperature affects changes in DO.
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8. Write a sentence conclusion.

As with any enzyme-catalyzed reaction, the enzymes have their preferred temperature. This is exactly
the case with photosynthesis. You can see a bell-shaped graph that shows that the enzymes preferred

9. Write a paragraph explaining your conclusion in terms of the process of photosynthesis.

Temperature profoundly influences the process of photosynthesis in plants. Enzymatic reactions

within the chloroplasts, where photosynthesis occurs, are highly sensitive to temperature changes. As
temperatures rise, the rate of photosynthesis generally increases, up to an optimal range where
enzymes function most efficiently. However, excessively high temperatures can lead to enzyme
denaturation, hindering the photosynthetic process. Conversely, at lower temperatures, enzymatic
activity slows down, limiting the rate of photosynthesis. The impact of temperature on gas exchange,
such as the intake of carbon dioxide and release of oxygen, is also significant. Therefore,
understanding the temperature dependence of photosynthesis is crucial for predicting and managing
plant productivity in diverse environmental conditions.