Angeles University Foundation

Ageles City, Pampanga

Investigating effect of transpiration rate on humidity using Potometer

Subitted by: Aileen Gutierrez Hemah Sundaramurthy

ABSTRACT Transpiration is the loss of water vapor from aerial parts of the leaf. This is similar to the process of sweating in mammals. Transpiration provides transpiration pull that regulates the movement of water from root up the plant. Water is used to regulate temperature of the plant to maintain homeostasis, medium in which minerals are dissolved and is a solvent for photosynthesis. Therefore on a hot day, where the humidity is low plants lose excessive amounts of water to regulate their temperature. Thus increasing the transpiration rate. Similar explanation goes with on a cold day, where the humidity level is high. With reference to the experimental evidence from the data collected, humidity is a factor that affects the rate of transpiration. INTRODUCTION There are several aspects to teaching about transpiration. Students should appreciate that the loss of water from leaves and stems is a natural and essential process in green plants. They should also study the different environmental factors that affect the loss of water from a plant. The main objectives of the simulation are outlined below: All students should know that plants take up water to replace water lost through transpiration All students should know one factor that can affect the rate of transpiration. Most students should know that the rate of transpiration can be affected by light intensity, humidity and wind. Some students should give reasons why a factor such as light intensity affects the rate of transpiration.

METHODOLOGY Set up:

1. Place a FRESHLY cut stem of the plant in water immediately to prevent building up of air bubbles. 2. Add some amount of oil in chamber 1 to prevent evaporation of water 3. Use the tap to adjust the air bubble in capillary tubing to 0 mark on the meter ruler 4. Start the experiment by recording the time taken for the air bubble to move 10 cm in the capillary tube using the stop watch 5. Rate of transpiration= 6. As a control, carry the experiment under normal condition 7. Repeat the same procedure twice. Level up the air bubble back to its original position using the tap. 8. Obtain the mean reading 9. Repeat the whole experiment in a dry, hot day where the humidity level is low and in a rainy, cold day where the humidity of the air is high 10. Tabulate the readings and compare the rates NOTE: make sure that the stem cuttings are taken from the same plant.

Data and Calculations condition Trail 1 Time/s Rate/s1

Trail 2 Time/s Rate/s1

Trail 3 Time/s Rate/s1

Average rate/s-1

Normal day

Hot Day

Cold Day