Data Collection and Processing

Keleka Blair Photosynthesis Lab Period 04

Data Collection and Processing Aspect 1: Raw Data Turned in to basket

Aspect 2: Processing Raw Data

Original Data*: Number of Floating Spinach Leaf Discs Exposed to Different Wavelengths Time Beaker (min) Beaker 1 Beaker 1 Beaker 2 Beaker 2 Beaker 3 Beaker 3 4 Beaker 4 Blue Correcte Green Correcte Purple Correcte White Correcte Light d Values Light d Values Light d Values Light d Values 0 8 0 5 0 2 0 7 0 1 7 -1 4 -1 3 1 7 0 2 7 -1 5 0 4 2 6 -1 3 7 -1 5 0 4 2 8 1 4 7 -1 5 0 4 2 8 1 5 8 0 5 0 4 2 8 1 6 8 0 5 0 4 2 8 1 7 8 0 5 0 4 2 8 1 8 8 0 5 0 4 2 8 1 9 9 1 6 1 5 3 8 1 10 9 1 6 1 5 3 9 2 11 9 1 6 1 5 3 9 2 12 9 1 6 1 7 5 9 2 13 9 1 6 1 9 7 9 2 14 9 1 6 1 8 6 9 2 *ERROR

Number of Floating Spinach Leaf Discs Exposed to Different Wavelengths Data from Catherine, Sean, Miles, and Oliver: Time Beaker Beaker Beaker Beaker Beaker Beaker Beaker Beaker (min) 1 1 2 2 3 3 4 4 White Corrected Red Corrected Green Corrected Blue Corrected Light Values Light Values Light values Light Values 0 1* 0 0 0 1* 0 0 0 1 1 0 2 2 2 1 0 0 2 1 0 2 2 2 1 1 1 3 3 2 3 3 2 1 1 1 4 3 2 3 3 2 1 1 1 5 3 2 3 3 3 2 1 1 6 3 2 3 3 4 3* 2 2 7 4 3 4 4 8 7* 3 3 8 4 3 4 4 8 7* 4 4 9 4 3 4 4 9 8* 4 4 10 6 5 4 4 9 8* 5 5 11 6 5 4 4 9 8* 5 5 12 6 5 5 5 9 8* 5 5 13 7 6 6 6 9 8* 5 5 14 7 6 6 6 10 9* 5 5 15 8 7 7 7 10 9* 6 6 *error

Spinach Leaf Discs Exposed to Different Wavelengths & covered in Aluminum Foil 0 8 7 7 7 10 10 6 6 1 10 9 4 4 7 6 1 1 2 7 6 4 4 6 5 4 4 3 4 3 6 6 6 5 3 3 4 4 3 6 6 5 4 3 3 5 4 3 6 6 6 5 3 3 6 5 4 6 6 6 5 3 3 7 5 4 5 5 7 6 3 3 8 5 4 5 5 7 6 4 4 9 4 3 4 4 6 5 4 4 10 4 3 4 4 6 5 4 4 11 4 3 3 3 6 5 4 4 12 4 3 3 3 6 5 3 3 13 4 3 3 3 7 6 3 3 14 4 3 3 3 7 6 3 3 15 4 3 3 3 7 6 3 3 16 4 3 2 2 6 5 3 3 17 5 4 2 2 6 5 3 3 18 5 4 2 2 5 4 3 3 19 5 4 2 2 5 4 3 3 20 5 4 2 2 4 3 3 3 21 4 3 2 2 4 3 3 3 22 4 3 2 2 4 3 3 3 23 4 3 2 2 4 3 2 2 24 4 3 2 2 4 3 2 2 25 3 2 3 3 3 2 2 2

Graphs: See Excel Charts 1 and Chart 2 Aspect 3: Presenting Processed Data In actually doing the lab our group had an error (shown in the Original Data), we were unable to release the oxygen from the leaf discs properly or had not added enough soap to the bicarbonate soap solution. On two trials we had 5 or more leaf discs floating at the initial reading. After carrying out or experiment as much as time allowed and applying the corrected values to the data to account for the discs floating at the initial time, we found our data to be use useable seeing how negative values presented themselves. In order to complete our experiment we joined a group already in progress and used their data. In our data provided by Catherine, Sean, Miles, and Oliver, there was an Error in the leaf discs exposed to the white light and the green light. Upon the initial reading there was already one leaf disc floating: meaning all the oxygen had not been removed from the leaf. In order to correct this error, we applied the corrected values to the data taken from those two beakers. We had another error in the beaker exposed to the green light.

Approximately six minutes into the experiment, the beaker was shaken therefore disturbing the discs floating and those at the bottom. No distinction could be made between the discs in the beaker which had been floating and those that were not. We are unsure of the time when the discs returned to their proper positions based on their oxygen content after the incident.

Conclusion and Evaluation Aspect 1: Concluding Based on our data, the beakers exposed to white light and red light allowed the leaf discs to photosynthesize better than that of the blue. The data showed the green light to have 9 of the 10 discs floating but there was an error with that beaker that compromised the accuracy of that data. The white light and the red light both produced 7 of the 10 leaf discs to be floating after the 15 minute experimental period. In reference to the light spectra the blue are red light is absorbed more by plants. In our experiment, the data supports that fact in terms of the red light, but not so much in the fact that the white light, which contains all the colors, allowed the leafs to photosynthesize more than that of the blue light. The second part of the experiment proved to be effective. In covering the beakers, no light was allowed in to the beaker. The discs sank as photosynthesis was unable to occur.

Aspect 2: Evaluating Procedures In the first attempt at the experiment, time proved to be a limiting factor, as it did in the second group as well. The first attempt at the experiment was compromised by time in that with the errors we had made, we had no time to find out the real reason as to why we had so many discs floating, even after a second attempt. In the second group, we were able to collect more accurate data but still lacked the last 5 minutes of testing. Another limiting factor was the ambient light in the room. We could not eliminate light from the windows and the hallway, which allowed our leaf discs to photosynthesize. The group, for the begging part of the experiment, was positioned by a window which was a weakness, allowing more ambient light exposure. Another weakness was the group’s ability to get the foil on and off the beakers and take a reading of the leaf discs. We had no way of getting the foil off without disrupting the discs, or taking the reading at exactly

60 second increments.

Aspect 3: Improving the Investigation To eliminate the disturbance of the foil, I think a black cloth or plastic material would be more effective. The cloth could just be lifted, a reading could be taken, and the cloth could be replaced without having to life the beakers or touch them. To correct the limitations of the experiment, I would cover the openings to the hallway and windows before beginning the experiment, and also have the majority of the lights off for the duration of the experiment.