EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION 11.2 How does light intensity affect the rate of photosynthesis?
Equipment
Elodea (in pondwater) Chopping board Knife
Spatula
Baking soda Beaker Funnel
Method
1. Place a stem of Elodea on a chopping board. Use a knife to cut the stem at a 45° angle.
2. Add a spatula of baking soda to the bottom of the beaker (baking soda supplies Elodea with the carbon dioxide necessary for photosynthesis).
SAFETY • Be careful when using the knife to cut the stem of Elodea.
3. Slowly add pondwater to the beaker. 4. Place the cut stem of Elodea into the beaker and place an inverted funnel over the Elodea.
5. Hold a boiling tube under the pondwater in the beaker to collect a column of water and then slowly position the boiling tube of pondwater down over the stem of the funnel. Hold in position with a clamp.
6. Place a thermometer in the beaker of pondwater. The pondwater should be approximately 20–25 °C and remain constant during the investigation.
7. Place the lamp 80 cm from the Elodea and turn on for 2 minutes.
8. Place the light meter on the lab bench side by side with the Elodea and record the light intensity from the light meter.
9. After 2 minutes, start the timer and record the number of bubbles of oxygen rising to the top of the boiling tube in 60 seconds.
10. Repeat steps 7–9, placing the lamp at the following distances from the Elodea: 70 cm, 60 cm, 50 cm, 40 cm, 30 cm, 20 cm, 10 cm.
11. Record your results. Light Pondwater Elodea Lamp Baking soda
:Fig. 11.8 To investigate how light intensity affects the rate of photosynthesis
j Go to page 30 of your Experimental Investigations Log to write up this investigation. Elements of Science 113 Thermometer
Boiling tube Oxygen
Oxygen bubbles
Boiling tube Retort stand and clamp Thermometer Lamp Metre stick Light meter Timer