ENERGY

Key concept: Change, Systems

Global context: Globalization and sustainability

Energy

 Define energy.
 List the sources of energy.
 Describe different kinds of energy (kinetic, chemical, electrochemical, elastic, radiant,
thermal).
 Explain changes to the form of energy.

Photosynthesis

 Define photosynthesis as the fundamental process by which plants manufacture

carbohydrates from raw materials using energy from light.
 State the balanced equation for photosynthesis in symbols [word equation and
chemical equation].
 Identify and label the cuticle, cellular and tissue structure of a dicotyledonous leaf, as
seen in cross-section under the light microscope, and describe the significance of these
features in terms of functions to include: distribution of chloroplasts – photosynthesis,
stomata and mesophyll cells – gas exchange, vascular bundles (xylem and phloem) -
transport and support.
 Explain the role of chlorophyll.
 Explain that chlorophyll traps light energy and converts it into chemical energy for the
formation of carbohydrates and their subsequent storage.
 Describe the intake of carbon dioxide and water by plants.
 Explain how plants obtain energy. Describe the experiment showing the conversion of
light energy into chemical energy inside plants (state the RQ and hypothesis, identify
variables, describe procedure, analyze data, evaluate experiment, suggest extensions
and improvements).
 Investigate the necessity for chlorophyll, light and carbon dioxide for photosynthesis,
using appropriate controls.
 Investigate and state the effect of varying: light intensity, carbon dioxide
concentration, temperature on the rate of photosynthesis.
 Outline the structure of plants which enables the plant to store energy.
Define energy.

Types of energy

Describe listed below types of energy.

Type Description

Kinetic

Chemical

Electrochemical

Elastic

Radiant

Thermal

Changes to the form of energy

Within the table you have two examples of energy transformation. Fill the table by using
more examples.

[Link]

Light to chemical

Production of foods by photosynthesis

Chemical to light

Bioluminescence in fireflies
 Introduction to photosynthesis

Where Do Trees Get Their Mass?

Watch the movie and answer questions below:

[Link]

[Link]

1. Explain how and by whom it was discovered that the mass of trees does not come from the
soil.

2. List what is needed to build the mass of tree.

By using information from the website answer questions below:

[Link] (p.1-2)

Define photosynthesis.

State the balanced equation for photosynthesis in symbols [word equation and chemical
equation].

Define endothermic reaction.

Explain how plant absorb water and carbon dioxide.

Explain what happens with produced glucose.

 Leaf Structure
Label the diagram of the leaf structure below, and then describe the function of each
part.
[Link]
[Link]
time_continue=59&v=LgfCxBVWGDE&feature=emb_logo

Leaf Structure Description of Function

1-

2-
3-

4-

5-

6-

7-

In order to practice the leaf structure use the animation

[Link]

The Chloroplast and Why Plants are Green

The Chloroplast is made of many parts. It is bound by two membranes which help to keep the energy
contained to carry out the reactions inside the cell. 
 The thylakoids are the pancake like things inside. 
o These contain a pigment called chlorophyll that captures light during the Light
Dependent Reactions (Stage 1). 

 Stage 2 (Light Independent Reactions) occurs in the Stroma, the space between the thylakoids
and the membranes. 

Natural white light comes in a variety of spectrum colors.

 We refer to this spectrum as "Visible light."
 We think of these as "the rainbow." (Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, and Violet)

 Visible light appears from about 380nm - 740nm. Each color comes in at a specific
wavelength. Examples: 

o Red= ~680nm 

o Violet= ~410nm
Why does this matter to photosynthesis?
 Chlorophyll tends to absorb only specific wavelengths or colors (See chart below). 
o Blue/ Violet (~425nm) and Red (~870nm) wavelengths are more readily
absorbed by chloropyll. 
 While the other colors may be absorbed partially by other pigments, these are still less
readily absorbed by plants
 BECAUSE chlorophyll tends to absorb green the least
o Green light is bounced back at our eye. 

o Hence green is what we see when we look at plants, and therefore we tend to
classify them as GREEN. 

Measuring the rate of photosynthesis

[Link]

[Link]
Working in groups answer questions below.

[Link]
 Photosynthesis Virtual Lab

Site 1: Glencoe Photosynthesis Lab Site: [Link]/pholab

Experiment Question: "Which colors of the light spectrum are most important for plant
growth?"

1. Make a hypothesis about which color in the visible spectrum causes the most plant growth
and which causes the least plant growth.

Plants will grow best with [ red / violet / blue / green / orange ] light (circle)

Plants will not grow well with [ red / violet / blue / green / orange ] light (circle)

2. Collect data by changing the color of light. Test each type of plant and use the ruler to
measure the height. Take an average for each plant at each color.

Color Spinach Radish Lettuce

Individual Average Individual Average Individual Average

Red

Orange

Green

Blue

Violet

3. Construct a graph showing interactions between the colors of light, plant species and
average plant growth.
 4. Write your conclusions which include an answer to the original question / hypothesis. Your
answer should be in a complete sentence. 

Factors affecting the photosynthesis rate

Read about the influence of various factors on the rate of photosynthesis

[Link]

Then conduct simulations below in order to collect and analyze the data

Site 2: Photolab

[Link]

This simulation allows you to manipulate many variables.

You already observed how light colors will affect the growth
of a plant, in this simulation you can directly measure the rate
of photosynthesis by counting the number of bubbles of
oxygen that are released.

Propose hypotheses on how each of these variables effect the

production of oxygen from a plant. (circle below)

a) Increasing the light intensity will [ increase / decrease ] rate of photosynthesis.

b) Increasing CO2 levels will [ increase / decrease ] rate of photosynthesis.

c. Increasing temperature will [ increase / decrease ] rate of photosynthesis.

I. Question: How Does Light Intensity Affect the Rate of Photosynthesis?

Procedure: The purple slider can be used to change the light levels. You will count the
number of bubbles at each level. The timer in the square box can be used to measure 30
seconds.

 Light Intensity 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50

Number of bubbles (30 sec)

A) Based on the light tests, as you increase the intensity of light, the rate of photosynthesis
 [ increases / decreases / stays the same ]. (circle)

B) How do you know?

C) What are the bubbles really showing?

II. Question: How Does Carbon Dioxide Affect the Rate of Photosynthesis?

Procedure: Set the light to its highest intensity (50). Adjust the CO2 levels by clicking on the
bottle.

  Full CO2 Half CO2

Number of bubbles (30 sec)    

*Write a conclusion in a complete sentence that describes how the level of CO2 affects the
rate of photosynthesis. (Use Question 1A to help you write this. It will look similar. )

III. Question: How Does Temperature Affect the Rate of Photosynthesis?

Create a data table (use the ones above to help you) and input values for at least 3
Temperatures

 
Plot a graph showing relationship between the temperature and number of oxygen bubbles
released per 30s.

Use your data to write a conclusion. This should be in a complete sentence.