How Does Light Intensity Affect The Rate Of Photosynthesis

This experiment focuses on the effect of light intensity on the rate of photosynthesis. In simple terms this refers to how the production rate of the products of photosynthesis (oxygen and glucose) will be affected by a light source at different distances. The hypothesis states that “If there is a higher light intensity, then more oxygen and glucose molecules will be produced, and the rate of photosynthesis will increase.” This hypothesis was accepted. This was determined by counting the number of oxygen bubbles produced by the plant in three minute time periods, while placing the plant at three separate distances from the light source.

The data that was recorded supports the hypothesis by showing that as the aquatic plant moved closer to the heat lamp, the rate of bubbles per minute
To further explain, while the plant was placed 100 centimeters away from the light source while the lamp was turned off it was recorded that no bubbles were produced. This acted as the control, in order to provide a standard comparison for the trails to come. The plant was then moved 25 centimeters closer to the lamp (Distance 2: 75cm), and roughly 1.6 bubbles appeared each minute. This means that there was an average of 5 bubbles overall after the three trials. While comparing the data from these two distances one can clearly see that as the light shining on the plant became more intense, more oxygen was produced by the plant. The rate of bubbles per minute jumps from 1.6 to 15.86 when the plant was placed 50 centimeters away from the heat lamp. The highest amount of bubbles produced with this distance was 55, and the overall average for the three trials was 47.6. These numbers show that the average number of bubbles increased by about 42 bubbles. For the final leg of the experiment the elodea plant was placed 25 centimeters away from the light source, and after all three trials the rate of bubbles per minute came out to be 24.86. This was the