Ms. Bell-AP Biology
Name:___________________________
Investigate#5 Photosynthesis Virtual Lab
Task#1 Investigate basic chemical reactions during photosynthesis
Your task is to go to the website below to review the process of photosynthesis by
completing the interactive tasks and answering the questions.
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Go to the “Illuminating Photosynthesis” webpage on pbs NOVA.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/methuselah/photosynthesis.html
Click “launch Interactive.”
Click on “The Cycle” at the top left
1. Click on each of the following items, and explain what happens:
a. The shade over the window:
b. The container of water:
c. The child:
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?
d. Will the plant continue to produce this gas if the shade over the window is
closed? (try it out to see!) _________________________________
3. According to this animation, what main 3 things does the plant need for photosynthesis to
occur?
(1)
(2)
(3)
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Click on “The Atomic Shuffle” at the top of the box and click on “next.”
4. What type of molecule is shown in the leaf and how many of them are there?
_________________________________________________
5. Draw one of the molecules below, as it is shown in the leaf.
6. According to the reading, these molecules “do not come from the tap.” What two places do
they come from?
(1)
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(2)
Click on “next” and watch carefully. You may click on “replay” to watch this again.
7. a. What is “stripped” from each water molecule and how many of them?
____________________________________
b. From where does the cell get the energy to do this? ____________
c. The stripped molecules form pairs. Where does it go after this?
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Click on “next”
a. What gas enters the leaf? How many of them? ______________________
b. Where does this gas enter through “in the leaf ? ________________
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Click on “next”
8. What two molecule are formed and how many of each molecule
________________________________________________
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Click on “next”
9. Another molecule is formed. Draw this molecule below as shown. What is this molecule and
what is its chemical symbol?
_________________________________________________________
Task#2 Lab Report on a factor that affects the rate of Photosynthesis.
Your task is to complete a lab report on a variable that influences the rate of photosynthesis. You
have a choice to select one of the following Photosynthesis Labs.
Which colors of the light spectrum are more important for plant growth?
http://www.glencoe.com/sites/common_assets/science/virtual_labs/LS12/LS12.html
Using DPIP as an Electron Acceptor
http://www.phschool.com/science/biology_place/labbench/lab4/concepts2.html
The Floating Leaf Disk Assay for Investigating Photosynthesis
http://www.elbiology.com/labtools/Leafdisk.html
The effects of carbon dioxide and Light on photosynthesis in an aquatic plant
http://www.newpathlearning.com/MML/PHOTOSYNTHESIS/files/BubbleLab.swf
The effects of wavelength and light intensity on production of ATP during photosynthesis
http://www.mhhe.com/biosci/genbio/biolink/j_explorations/ch09expl.htm
Your Lab Report must include the followings:
1. Title: a brief, concise, yet descriptive title
2. Statement of the Problem (What question(s) are you trying to answer?)
3. Hypothesis:
4. Independent Variable
5. Dependent Variable
6. Constant
7. Procedure: (Write step-by-step procedure in such a way that anyone else could repeat the
experiment.)
8. Results (Data):
You may attach a separate sheet(s) if necessary.
All tables, graphs and charts should be labeled appropriately.
9. Conclusions:
10. Reflection