Investigation into the effect of Light Intensity on Photosynthesis.

The first 200 words of this essay...

Investigation into the effect of Light Intensity on

Photosynthesis by Dominic Mulley

Introduction

Photosynthesis is the process that produces 'food' in plants. The 'food' that it produces is called glucose. Photosynthesis takes place in the leaves of all green plants. Leaves are especially to make photosynthesis:

- Leaves are thin and flat to provide a large surface area to absorb as much sunlight as possible.

- The palisade cells are near the top of the leaf and are packed with chlorophyll.

- Guard cells control the movement of gases into and out of the leaf. They line the bottom of the leaf.

An equation can be demonstrated to show how a plant produces photosynthesis and what substances it uses:

Carbon + Water + Sunlight Glucose + oxygen

Dioxide Chlorophyll

6CO2 + 6H2O + Sunlight C6H12O6 + 6O2

Chlorophyll

The rate of photosynthesis depends on light intensity, carbon dioxide and temperature. Sometimes increasing these factors has little or no effect. This is because one of the other factors is so low that it limits the rate of photosynthesis. Scientists call this the limiting factor.