To what extent does the colour of light have on the rate of photosynthesis on Cabomba Aquatica plants?
Background knowledge:
Photosynthesis is a process that occurs in all plants including bacteria and algae. They utilize the energy provided by the sun to produce energy in the form of glucose and oxygen. Photosynthesis is vital for the survival of most life forms on earth. The process of photosynthesis includes light energy being absorbed by the plants and synthesised with carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O) and gets converted into glucose (C6H12O6) and oxygen (O2).
Cabomba Aquatica plants are also known as fanwort plants and are native to South America. Cabomba plants survive in aquarium environments with hard water and minimal light. They are favoured by aquarists as oxygenating plants for fishtanks.
6CO2 + 6H2O  C6H12O6 + 6O2
Light is in the form of electromagnetic energy that travels in wave form. The range of electromagnetic radiation is known as the emission spectrum, a small strip of which is visible light. Visible light is light that is detected by the naked human eye. Visible light has a wavelength that ranges from 400-700 nanometres. The percentage of light absorbed by plants in photosynthesis differs for the colour of the light. Red and violet light are on opposite ends on the visible light spectrum. Red light has the longest wavelength of 700nm whereas violet light has the shorter wavelength of 400nm. Red light also possesses the lower frequency while violet light possesses the higher frequency. White light is a mixture of all seven colours of the spectrum. As visible light passes through a prism the light is refracted, each light refracting at different degrees. Red light refracts the least whilst violet light refracts the most.

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Light can also be absorbed by pigments. Different pigments absorb different wavelengths of light. The leaves of a plant are green because the chlorophyll within them absorb all other wavelengths of light and reflects green light. In the absorption spectrum it can be shown that red light and violet light are the most absorbed whereas green light is most commonly reflected.
There are three main limiting factors for the rate of photosynthesis; Light intensity, Temperature and Concentration of Carbon Dioxide. To increase one or decrease one would have a correlating effect on the rate of photosynthesis.
This investigation will be focusing on which wavelengths of visible light, colour of light, has the highest rate of photosynthesis. It is safe to assume that green would have to lowest rate of photosynthesis because it is reflected by the leaves of plants and red/violet would have the highest rate of photosynthesis.
Hypothesis:
I hypothesise that the rate of photosynthesis will be less for the green light whereas lights such as red and violet will have the fastest rate of photosynthesis.
Variables:

Variable Type

Variable

How it is controlled/Managed

Why it is controlled/Manage

Independent

Colour/Wavelength of light

I will change the colour of the light using 5 different colours including white light

To determine how the wavelength of light affects the rate of photosynthesis the most

Dependent

The rate the Cabomba flower synthesises

N/A

N/A

Control

Light intensity

The bulb will be kept at 5cm away from the test tube containing the Cabomba flower at all times

Keeping the light intensity the same means it will have no additional effect on the rate of photosynthesis. A change of light intensity would result in a change of photosynthesis rate.

Control

Room temperature ºC

The room temperature will be kept the same for the duration of the investigation of the experiment by ensuring there are no windows open, air conditioners on or heaters being used

By doing so I will be able to keep the room temperature relatively the same throughout the experiment reducing the effect of temperature increase or decrease on the rate of photosynthesis.

Control

Light bulb

The same 100W light bulb will be used throughout the investigation

Different light bulbs may have different light intensities therefore using the same light bulb eradicates the issue of dealing with different light intensities that could affect the rate of reaction

Control

Concentration of Sodium Hydrogen Carbonate (NaHCO3)

Ensuring the same concentration of NaHCO3 is used in the experiment and the source remains the same

Concentrations of Sodium Hydrogen Carbonate could have an effect on the rate of photosynthesis as it provides necessary carbon dioxide for photosynthesis so keeping the concentration the same eradicate that issue

Control

Type of leaves and size

The same sample of plant will be used throughout the duration of the experiment

Different plants may photosynthesise at different rates and different sized samples may also affect the rate of photosynthesis. Different leaves on plants absorb a different number of visible light wavelengths resulting in a different rate of photosynthesis.

Control

Time allowed for measuring of photosynthesis

The number of bubbles produced will be measured every 30 seconds

By taking down the number of bubbles produced every 30 seconds I will be able to accurately write down how many bubbles where produced without overwhelming myself trying to count for 1 minute or more.

Preliminary results:
During my preliminary I attempted to measure different colours in order to gain an understanding on how the colour of light affects the rate of photosynthesis. I kept the light bulb at 5cm away from the test tube and placed a coloured filter in front of the light so that the colour of the filter shone on the plant.
I realised that the way in which I filtered the light wasn’t the best way at all and in order to get the best results I thought it best to wrap the filter around the test tub and allow the light to shine upon it ensuring most of the coloured light reaches the Cambodia leaf.
Apparatus:

100W light bulb
Cabomba plant
1 metre ruler±0.5mm
1% sodium hydrogen carbonate (NaHCO3)
Stopwatch (±1seconds)
250cm3 beaker (±25cm3)
Colour filters (x4)
Boiling tube
Safety goggles
Thermometer (±0.5ºC)

Method:

Ensure safety goggles are on to prevent damage to the eyes and for protection from Sodium Hydrogen Carbonate.
Lab coats must be worn at all times during the experiment
Hands must be washed before and after the experiment

Set up apparatus on working area as pictured above
Collect your sample of Cambodia plant into the boiling tube. Make sure it is big enough to fill about two thirds of the tube.
Place boiling tube into a beaker and fill the beaker with water, also to about two thirds in order to add the sodium hydrogen carbonate which will submerge the plant.
Fill boiling tube containing the Cambodia plant with 1% Sodium Hydrogen Carbonate. Fill it till it covers the plant.
Record temperature ensuring it is at room temperature of about 25 ºC
Plug in the 100W light bulb in and turn it on to its side so that it is facing the beaker. Place it 5cm away from the beaker.
Allow the beaker to acclimatise for 2 minutes and return to starting temperature before beginning net experiment
After 2 minutes count the number of bubbles that appeared with 30 second increments in 2 ½ minutes.
Record the number of bubbles given off
Change the colour of the filter and allow the plant to acclimatise for 2 minutes again before repeating the experiment.
Repeat the experiment again with a different wavelength of light

Data collection and Processing (Quantitative and Qualitative data):
Measures and average number of bubbles produced

Light Colour

Wavelength ±15nm

Bubbles per 30 seconds ±5%

0-30
Seconds ±1

30-60
Seconds ±1

60-90
Seconds ±1

90-120
Seconds ±1

120-150
Seconds ±1

White Light

~555nm

24

63

111

33

30

Red Light

~670nm

23

49

49

48

43

Yellow Light

~575nm

36

49

46

49

48

Blue Light

~470nm

22

24

21

22

21

Green Light

~525nm

14

17

16

14

18

Violet Light

~425nm

31

20

24

23

26

Qualitative Data:
As the plant photosynthesised, there was a constant stream of bubbles being emitted from the stem. The uncertainty of 5% is due to the large number of bubbles being emitted at times and the factor of human error when counting the bubbles. The level of uncertainty for time was ±1 second.
Average rate of photosynthetic reaction

Light Colour

Average Bubbles per minute ± 1

White Light

52

Red Light

42

Yellow Light

46

Blue Light

22

Green Light

16

Violet Light

25

Standard deviation from the mean:
σx =

Light Colour

Average number of bubbles produced per minute (±1)

Standard deviation from mean 2 d.p.

White Light

52

32.34

Red Light

42

9.95

Yellow Light

46

4.92

Blue Light

22

1.09

Green Light

16

1.60

Violet Light

25

3.66

Interpretation of results:
Conclusion:
(http://blog.canacad.ac.jp/bio/BiologyIBHL1/1121.html)
The data table supports my hypothesis partially. The green light photosynthesised the least whilst yellow light photosynthesised and then red light. I hypothesised that red light would photosynthesis the most and would be the most efficient whilst green light would be the most insufficient and synthesise the least, the only anomaly was the effect of yellow light which indicates an inaccuracy and unreliability of the apparatus used. Violet light was also unusually low suggesting inaccuracy and error. Perhaps the yellow filter was in fact a mix of multiple wavelengths causing the strange results I gathered whilst white light was a mix of all wavelengths.
Mean results would be plotted on a graph and a smooth curve of best fit would be drawn through the points with error bars are each point. Each bar represents the standard deviation from the mean for each wavelength of light. The presence of anomalies and outliers creates inaccuracy and unreliability within my results. The error bars where slightly large for some of the wavelengths of light indicating inaccuracy of results.
The colour of the leaf played a part in the rate of photosynthesis. Leaves may come in different colours, because the leaves used in this experiment were green, green light is more likely to be reflected. A different coloured leaf may produce different results and thus further investigation would be required. Looking at the image above which shows the literary value of wavelength and rate of photosynthesis it became evident to me that repeated investigations are important. While I was correct that green light would have as low photosynthetic rate, my data did not follow the trend that it should. Yellow light should have also been one of the lowest rates however in my experiment I found it to be one of the highest and blue light showed to have one of the lowest rates. This led me to conclude that my experiment was inaccurate.
Evaluation:   
There were numerous weaknesses within my experiment that caused unreliability and inaccuracy.
Firstly I performed my experiment at the same time as the rest of the students within the class meaning that the light intensity was mixed with those near to mine thus increasing the light intensity and affecting my results. This issue is a minor one yet it still adds to the unreliability and inaccuracy of my results.

Error

Explained

Effect on results

Significance and improvement

Light from other light bulbs

I performed my experiment at the same time as the rest of the students within the class meaning that the light intensity was mixed with those near to mine

The increase in light intensity may have been minute yet it still could have affected my results and the accuracy

Minor significance. To improve on this I will perform the experiment in a darkened room on my own.

Temperature of beaker and plant

The light bulb was an 100W light bulb that emitted a lot of heat energy

The increase in heat energy could have increased the rate of photosynthesis insufficiently

Significant. To improve on this a more energy efficient light bulb should be used to reduce temperature’s effect on the rate of photosynthesis and beaker should be insulated to greater effect to reduce heat loss

Colour filters

None of the filters where monochromatic

This meant that they would let in a number of wavelengths. This would cause a problem as it meant none of the results were based on purely red or green light causing inaccuracy

Very significant. To improve on this I would ensure that the filters I use would be monochromatic and expect an increase in accuracy.

Filter thickness

None of the filters had the same level of thickness

A thicker filter meant there was a great level of absorption by the material, reducing the level of light being transmitted

Significant. To improve, filters of the same thickness should be used.