Photosynthesis & Light Intensity

• What is the Equation for Photosynthesis?

  Carbon Dioxide + Water -> Glucose + Oxygen
• What process do plants and algae use to make their own food?

  Photosynthesis
• Define Biomass

  The mass of living material at a particular stage in a food chain
• Name the energy transfer during Photosynthesis.

  Light -> Chemical
• In what organelle of a plant is light absorbed by?

  Chlorophyll
• Name the equation for light intensity.

  1/d² , where d is the distance between the lamp and plant/algae
• Closer Distance = More light =?

  faster rate of photosynthesis, so there will be less concentration of CO²
• Indicator colour when CO² concentration is high.

  Yellow
• Indicator colour when CO² concentration is the same as in normal air.

  Orange-Red
• Indicator colour when CO² concentration is low

  Purple
• Define what is meant by a limiting factor.

  Something that affects the rate of reaction.
• Name 3 limiting factors for photosynthesis.


  Temperature, Light intensity, CO² concentration
• What happens to the rate of photosynthesis when temperature increases?

  Due to an increase in kinetic energy and enzyme activity, the rate of photosynthesis increases, however when the temperature goes past its optimum, the enzymes will begin to denature and so that is why the graph drops.
• If there is more CO² present, why will the rate of photosynthesis increase?

  There will be more CO² to produce sugars
• Why does the line of the graphs eventually go flat on the CO² concentration and Light intensity graphs?

  Something else now is the limiting factor. It prevents any further increase of photosynthesis.