Waterweed Simulation
Introduction: In this simulation, you will be looking at the production of oxygen as a plant photosynthesizes. This procedure can be accomplished by placing elodea plants in water with baking soda to provide carbon. The plant can then be exposed to varying intensities and colors of light. Oxygen is measured in the number of bubbles
produced by the plant. This simulator addresses three factors that influence the rate of photosynthesis. Carbon dioxide availability, light intensity, and light color can all be adjusted in the simulator to determine how each of the factors affects the rate of photosynthesis.
Affect of Light Color on the Rate of Photosynthesis: Set the simulator to 6.0 Light Level, and 6.0 CO2 Level. Adjust the colors to complete the table.
Light Color
Red
Blue
Green
Colorless
Number of Bubbles (Light: 6.0 & CO2: 6.0)
13 Bubbles
15 Bubbles
6 Bubbles
22 Bubbles
1. Based on the data, what color of light results in the fastest rate
of photosynthesis? Propose an explanation for these results.
> Based on the data, colorless light results in the fastest rate of photosynthesis. The more bubbles we see, the more photosynthesis is happening.
Affect of Light Level on Photosnythesis: Set the simulator to colorless light CO2 level to 6.0. Make adjustments to the level of light to complete the data table.
Light Level
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
6.0
7.0
8.0
9.0
10.0
Number of Bubbles (Light: Colorless & CO2: 6.0
4
8
11
14
17
21
24
26
27
30
2. Based on the data, what light level results in the fastest rate of photosynthesis? Propose an explanation for these results.
> Based on the data, 10.0 results in the fastest rate of photosynthesis. The more bubbles we see, the more photosynthesis is happening.
Affect of CO2 Levels on Photosynthesis: Develop an experiment to test how the level of CO2 affects the rate of photosynthesis. Construct a data table in the space below. that shows the data you collected. Make sure to include information such as the color of light, light intensity, level of CO2 and the amount of bubbles produced.
produced by the plant. This simulator addresses three factors that influence the rate of photosynthesis. Carbon dioxide availability, light intensity, and light color can all be adjusted in the simulator to determine how each of the factors affects the rate of photosynthesis.
Affect of Light Color on the Rate of Photosynthesis: Set the simulator to 6.0 Light Level, and 6.0 CO2 Level. Adjust the colors to complete the table.
Light Color
Red
Blue
Green
Colorless
Number of Bubbles (Light: 6.0 & CO2: 6.0)
13 Bubbles
15 Bubbles
6 Bubbles
22 Bubbles
1. Based on the data, what color of light results in the fastest rate
of photosynthesis? Propose an explanation for these results.
> Based on the data, colorless light results in the fastest rate of photosynthesis. The more bubbles we see, the more photosynthesis is happening.
Affect of Light Level on Photosnythesis: Set the simulator to colorless light CO2 level to 6.0. Make adjustments to the level of light to complete the data table.
Light Level
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
6.0
7.0
8.0
9.0
10.0
Number of Bubbles (Light: Colorless & CO2: 6.0
4
8
11
14
17
21
24
26
27
30
2. Based on the data, what light level results in the fastest rate of photosynthesis? Propose an explanation for these results.
> Based on the data, 10.0 results in the fastest rate of photosynthesis. The more bubbles we see, the more photosynthesis is happening.
Affect of CO2 Levels on Photosynthesis: Develop an experiment to test how the level of CO2 affects the rate of photosynthesis. Construct a data table in the space below. that shows the data you collected. Make sure to include information such as the color of light, light intensity, level of CO2 and the amount of bubbles produced.