Investigate the relationship between light intensity and the rate of Photosynthesis

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Biology- Photosynthesis Coursework

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"Investigate the relationship between light intensity and the rate of Photosynthesis"

Photosynthesis

"Photosynthesis is a scientific process by which green plants trap light energy from the Sun. This energy is used in the making of chemical reactions, which lead to the formation of carbohydrates. The carbohydrates are found in the form of simple sugar, or glucose, which provides the basic food for both plants and animals. For photosynthesis to happen, the plant must possess chlorophyll and must have a supply of carbon dioxide and water. Photosynthesis takes place inside chloroplasts, which are found mainly in the leaf cells of plants.

The by-product of photosynthesis, oxygen, is of great importance to all living organisms, and virtually all-atmospheric oxygen has originated by photosynthesis.

Chloroplasts contain the enzymes and chlorophyll necessary for photosynthesis, and the leaf structure of plants is specially adapted to this purpose.

Most of the glucose that forms during photosynthesis is stored in the chloroplasts as starch. As plant- eating animals eat the leaves they too depend on plant photosynthesis to supply their basic energy needs. Photosynthesis depends on the ability of chlorophyll to capture the energy of sunlight and to use it to split water molecules.
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Respiration

External respiration in flowering plants is dependent on light intensity.

In daylight both photosynthesis and respiration occur. Photosynthesis provides oxygen for respiration, and respiration provides carbon dioxide for photosynthesis. In darkness, only respiration takes place and oxygen is taken in from the outside air. In bright light, the rate of photosynthesis is ten to twenty times the rate of respiration; thus it provides an ample source of oxygen. In decreasing light, the photosynthesis rate drops until a point is reached when the rate of respiration equals the rate of photosynthesis. This is called the compensation ...

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