Photosynthesis
Internet Activity
Name:
Date:
Illuminating Photosynthesis
 Click on the following link:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/methuselah/photosynthesis.html#
 Read the introduction entitled “Illuminating Photosynthesis” by Rick Groleau
 Click on the link that reads: “Go to Illuminating Photosynthesis.”
 Read the introductory poem.
 Click on “The Cycle” at the top of the box
1. Click on each of the following items, and explain what happens:
a. The shade over the window: The shade opens,and the windowlets sunlight from the
outdoors inside the house.
b. The container of water: The container sprinkles water over the plant. The plant drinks
the water and water is circulated through the plant.
c. The child: The child breathes in oxygen, and exhales carbon dioxide, which means the
plant can breathe in the carbon dioxide and exhale oxygen.
2. a. What gas does the child provide for the plant to use?
b. What gas does the plant provide for the child to use?
Carbon Dioxide
Oxygen
c. Will the plant continue to produce this gas if the shade over the window is closed? (try it
out to see!)
No it will not
3. According to this animation, what 3 main things does the plant need for photosynthesis to
occur?
(1) Natural light
(2) Water
(3) Carbon Dioxide
Adapted from Ranic 2005
 Click on “The Atomic Shuffle” at the top of the box.
 Read the introductory poem, and click on “next”
4. What type of molecule is shown in the leaf? Water
5. According to the reading, these molecules “do not come from the tap.” What two places do
they come from?
(1) They come from the leaf cells
(2) They also come from the ground when they get sucked up by the roots.
 Click on “next” and watch carefully. You may click on “replay” to watch this again.
6. a. What is “stripped” from each water molecule? Oxygen
b. From where does the cell get the energy to do this? Sunlight
c. The stripped molecules form pairs. Where does it go after this? It leaves the cell
 Click on “next”
7. a. What gas enters the leaf? Carbon Dioxide
b. This gas enters through “holes” in the leaf. What are they called? Stomata
 Click on “next”
8. What molecule is formed once again? Water
 Click on “next”
9. What is the name of this molecule of the molecule that is formed at the end (“and boy it is
sweet”)? Gluecose
 Click on “Three Puzzlers” at the top of the box.
Adapted from Ranic 2005
10. Answer each of the following questions, and explain in your own words.
a. Can a tree produce enough oxygen to keep a person alive? Explain.
Some trees, such as the bonsai, can’t produce enough oxygen, but an average sized tree can
make enough oxygen to support two to four people alive.
b. Can a plant stay alive without light?
a plant can’t stay alive without light, but it has been proven that plants can stay alive for a little
while without light if fed sugar water, but without either light or sugar water, plants will die.
c. Can a plant survive without oxygen? Explain.
The plant would not grow, and plants get their own food using oxygen, so a plant would starve
since they couldn’t get their own food.
Adapted from Ranic 2005