Photosynthesis Limiting Factors

Question 1

What is the name for the factors which affect the rate of photosynthesis?

Answer 1

Limiting Factors

Question 2

What are the 3 factors which affect the rate of photosynthesis?

Answer 2

• Light intensity
• Carbon dioxide
• Temperature

Question 3

How can you measure the rate of photosynthesis?

Answer 3

• By measuring how much oxygen or glucose a plant makes in a certain amount of time
• 1/time (time for 1cm3 of plant to produce) in units time to power of -1
• Or calculate the increase of biomass in a given time

Question 4

What is the formula for photosynthesis?

Answer 4

1/t

t=time
Measured in min -1 (if minutes) s-1 (seconds) h-1(hours)

Question 5

How does light intensity affect the rate of photosynthesis?

Answer 5

• Higher the light intensity, faster the rate of photosynthesis until photosynthesis reaches its maximum rate.
• when there is low/no light photosynthesis stops

Question 6

How does Carbon dioxide affect the rate of photosynthesis?

Answer 6

Carbon dioxide is one of the reactants so the greater the Carbon dioxide concentration, the faster the reaction rate

Question 7

What is the most common limiting factor, why and how is this resolved?

Answer 7

• Carbon dioxide is the most common limiting factor as the atmosphere only contains 0.04%
• Farmers increase CO2 levels by using greenhouses to increase the rate of photosynthesis

Question 8

How does temperature increase the reaction rate of photosynthesis?

Answer 8

• Photosynthesis is an enzyme controlled reaction so the higher the temperature the higher the rate of reaction
• However, if the temperature is too high the enzymes will denature and the reactions will stop