The purpose of this experiment was to compare how the rate of photosynthesis varies depending on light intensity. By definition photosynthesis is a process that converts light energy into chemical energy that are stored in the bonds of a carbohydrate. The main item photosynthesis needs is light and without light the process cannot happen. Almost all living organisms need the sugar that is produced by photosynthesis to be used as energy. The oxygen that this process releases is used for most organisms during cellular respiration. Plants, for example, which are eurokayto are such organisms that live by photosynthesis. In plants chloroplasts are the membrane bound organelles where the process takes place. Within the organelles are stacks of membranes sacks called grana. The individual sacks in grana are called thylakoids, which hold pigments that are needed to get the light that is used in photosynthesis. The most part in the thylakoids is chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is what captures the light. It is responsible for absorbing all the colors. Photosynthesis has two stages that it can be in. Light dependent reactions are considered the first stage and takes place in the thylakoid membranes. In this stage light is the energy that helps make ATP, which is used, in the second stage. The second stage is light independent reaction and takes place in the stroma of chloroplasts. In this stage things such as ATP reaction with light and is converted into carbon dioxide. This process, the process of converting carbon dioxide into organic compounds is carbon fixation. To start off with our null hypothesis was light intensity does not have an affect on the rate of photosynthesis. Our alternative hypothesis was light intensity does have an affect on the rate of photosynthesis. .
Materials and Methods:.
To start off with we got two test tubes and placed them in one of the tube holding containers. We then got a piece of Elodea plant and put it in one of our test tubes.