Transpiration in Plants and Factors Affecting Transpiration Rate

Question 1

what factors affect the rate of transpiration

Answer 1

1. increase in temperature
2. increase of air movement (wind)
3. decrease in humidity
4. increase in light intensity

Question 2

how does the increase in temperature affect the rate of transpiration

Answer 2

this increases the kinetic energy (movement) of water molecules which makes them diffuse faster and therefore increases the rate of transpiration

Question 3

how does the increase in air movement affect the rate of transpiration

Answer 3

an increase in air movement removes the water molecules as the pass out of the leaf, maintaining a steep concentration gradient for diffusion, therefore increasing the rate of transpiration

Question 4

how does the decrease of humidity affect the rate of transpiration

Answer 4

the concentration of water water molecules outside the leaf decreases which creates a steeper concentration gradient for diffusion and therefore increases transpiration (dry air = lots of transpiration)

Question 5

how does the increase of light intensity affect the rate of transpiration

Answer 5

stomata open to allow gas exchange for photosynthesis which allows water vapour to diffuse out of the leaf and therefore increase transpiration