| sioa: OX Date: LQLE
BIO Unit 3: Bioenergetics 7
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Unit 3.3: Photosynthesis ~ Lab: What Affects the Rate of Photosynthesis?
Control Experiment
Introduction
The purpose of this lab is to determine how the rate of photosynthesis could be changed by altering
Certain variables such as distances of light sources and changing the amount of baking soda available to plants.
In these experiments we are going to use the anacharis plant — an aquatic plant. In order to assess the rate of
photosynthesis we are going to be counting the number of oxygen gas bubbles that are produced by the plant
(you will see bubbles floating to the top of your test tubes as the experiment progresses). To establish a
baseline rate of photosynthesis for our experiments, follow the steps below to set up your control experiment:
Procedure: Follow these steps to set up your control experiment
1. At your stations, send two group members to take both test tubes and both beakers found in the
bucket at your station and collect materials at the front table
2. Obtain two anacharis plants from Mr. G at the front table
3. Mr. G will fill the test tubes with enough water so that the plant is covered in about an inch of water
4. Invert the beakers so that the bottom of the beaker is covering the top of the test tube. Flip the beaker
and test tube over so that water does not spill from it. Mr. G will fil your beaker with enough water to
cover the sides of the test tube
5. As two members of your group are obtaining materials at the front of the class, the other two
members should plug in their lamp at their stations and prepare for their partners to return with the
plants -
6. Use your ruler at your station to place the beaker and test tube containing your anacharis plants 25
centimeters away from the base of your lamp
7. Determine the rate of photosynthesis by counting the number of oxygen gas bubbles produced by the
plant. This experiment should be timed for two minutes
8. Fill out the data table below:
‘Table 1 — Control Experiment:
Time Taken (minutes) Brviates
Distance of Light Source (cm) QS cm
Number of Os bubbles (per 2minutes) | () bubbles ‘Experiment 1 ~ Altering Light Source Distance
Introduction
In this altered variable we are going to explore how altering the distance of light sources provided to
plants could alter the rate of photosynthesis occurring within these plants. You are once again going to
determine the rate of photosynthesis by counting the amount of oxygen gas being given off by the anacharis
plant.
First, create a hypothesis with your group (using the if, then, because format) that answers the following
question: What do you think will happen to the rate of photosynthesis if the distance of a light source
provided to a plant is changed? How would it change if the distance was increased? How would it change if
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