Name:
Hour:
Virtual Photosynthesis Lab: Water Weed
Standard: The student will understand cell processes (photosynthesis).
Question: How does amount of light and carbon dioxide available affect rate of
photosynthesis?
Go to the site:
http://www.saddleworth.oldham.sch.uk/science/simulations/waterweed.htm
Part 1: How does changing the amount of light affect the amount of
photosynthesis taking place?
Directions:
1. Adjust the light shining on your plant to colorless
2. Click the “Speed x5” button so your experiment doesn’t take so long.
3. Adjust the CO2 level to “5.”
4. Adjust your light level to Level 1 (minimum light)
5. Click “Start” and record the amount of Oxygen bubbles your plant
releases. Repeat the experiment, changing the amount of light each trial.
Light Level
Number of Oxygen Bubbles
Produced
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Part 2: How does changing the amount of carbon dioxide available to the plant
affect the rate of photosynthesis?
Directions:
6. Adjust the light shining on your plant to colorless
7. Click the “Speed x5” button so your experiment doesn’t take so long.
8. Adjust your light level to Level 5.
9. Adjust your Carbon Dioxide to “1’”
10. Click “Start” and record the amount of Oxygen bubbles your plant
releases. Repeat the experiment, changing the amount of CO2 each trial.
Name:
Hour:
Results/
Carbon Dioxide
Amount
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Number of Oxygen Bubbles
Produced
Conclusions:
1. As you increased the amount of light hitting your plant, what happened to
the amount of oxygen bubbles being produced by photosynthesis?
2. As you increased the amount of carbon dioxide available to your plant,
what happened to the number of oxygen bubbles being produced by
photosynthesis?
3. Write the formula for photosynthesis:
4. Based on the formula for photosynthesis, what are the three reactants or
“ingredients” a plant needs in order to photosynthesize?
5. If you wanted to maximize the amount of photosynthesis this water weed
is doing, what should you maximize the levels of? TRY THIS. How many
oxygen bubbles did you produce?
6.
On a separate sheet of graph paper, create a graph showing the number
of oxygen bubbles based on amount of light, and another graph showing
the amount of oxygen bubbles based on the amount of CO2. (see
example for help)