Waterweed Virtual Lab
Introduction: In this virtual lab, you will be looking at the production of oxygen as a plant (the waterweed) photosynthesizes. Oxygen is measured in the number of bubbles produced by the plant. Three factors that influence the rate of photosynthesis can be adjusted in the lab: light intensity, color of light and level of CO2.
Go to:
*Note: you may need to update Adobe Shockwave Player
Or type in Google: water weed simulation (and choose 1st link)
A) Effect of Light Level on Photosynthesis
Make a hypothesis predicting which light intensity level will produce the most oxygen bubbles.
______
______
______
To begin use the following settings:
Light level = 1.0
CO2 level = 6.0
Light Color = colorless
Speed = X5
Make adjustments to the level of light to complete the data table.
Light Intensity Level / Number of Oxygen Bubbles (Light level = colorless and CO2 level = 6.0)1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
6.0
7.0
8.0
9.0
10.0
Part A Questions:
1. Write a conclusion using the data you collected. Make sure to include whether you accept or reject your hypothesis. Make sure to use data to support your statements.
2. In this experiment, what are the independent, dependent and controlled variables?
B) Effect of Light Color on the Rate of Photosynthesis
Make a hypothesis predicting which light color will produce the most oxygen bubbles.
______
______
______
To begin use the following settings:
Light level = 6.0
CO2 level = 6.0
Light Color = Red
Speed = X5
Make adjustments to the level of light to complete the data table.
Light Color / Number of Oxygen Bubbles (light intensity = 6.0 and CO2 = 6.0)Red
Blue
Green
Colorless
Part B Questions:
1. Write a conclusion using the data you collected. Make sure to include whether you accept or reject your hypothesis. Make sure to use data to support your statements.
2. In this experiment, what are the independent, dependent and controlled variables?
C) Inquiry: Effect of CO2 Level on Photosynthesis
Objective: Develop an experiment to test how the level of CO2 effects the rate of photosynthesis. Use the previous experiments at a guide.
Write this lab information on your own piece of paper. Use complete sentences. Include the following as you follow the scientific method:
- Observation
- Question
- Hypothesis
- Experimental variables (independent, dependent and controlled variables)
- Data table (with proper title, labels and units)
- Graph (ON GRAPH PAPER, with proper title, axis labels and units)
- Conclusions (do you accept or reject your hypothesis and use the data collected to thoroughly explain what was learned)
Part C Questions:
1. What settings can you put the simulator on to get the MAXIMUM rate of photosynthesis?