How do you measure the rate of photosynthesis?

Answer 1

ANSWER 1

get a beaker full of water then put the plant into it with a test tube of water on it. then put some light an it and blow into the water with a straw. if you see bubbles building up in the tube then you have oxygen.

ANSWER 2

Hi photosynthesis measurer,

Counting the air bubbles that are produced when a plant is in water is perfect for measuring the rate of photosynthesis if you have limited resources and only need rough estimates. However, since bubbles have a variable, undefined volume, counting the number of air bubbles is not precise. You can obtain slightly more accurate results by collecting the air released, and measuring the volume.

If you wish to obtain precise and accurate measurements of the rate of photosynthesis, you could use a Photosynthesis Measurement System. They are instruments that quantitatively measure the rate using an infrared gas analyser to assess the input of CO2 and output of H2O. Some Photosythesis measurement systems (such as the LCpro+) offer the ability to precisely control the environment of the leaf being measured. These instruments maintain the leaf chamber at user-selected concentrations of CO2 and H2O, and can control PAR and temperature. This allows you to conduct detailed experiments on the effects of different conditions on the rate of photosynthesis.

Photosynthesis measurement systems are designed to be portable so you can carry them to field sites (except some models are somewhat heavy for field work. LI-COR's 6400 model weighs 13.5kg!).

Answer 3

Below is a reference site that might be helpful.

Answer 2

The rate of photosynthesis is commonly measured by monitoring oxygen production or carbon dioxide uptake. This can be done using instruments such as a gas exchange analyzer or a spectrophotometer. Alternatively, the rate of photosynthesis can be determined indirectly by measuring the rate of sugar production or by tracking the absorption of light by chlorophyll.

Answer 3

One option is to use a Photosynthesis System. These instruments are generally believed to be accurate and reliable by the plant physiologist community. There are a number of scientific papers about investigation of photosynthetic rate which reference a photosynthesis system in their materials and methods. You can look up the scientific papers referenced on the Wikipedia page, and can see which Photosynthesis Systems they used;

The systems measure the rate using an infrared gas analyser to assess the input of CO2 and output of H2O. Some Systems (e.g. the LCpro+) can precisely control the environment of the leaf being measured. The user can select the exact concentrations of CO2 and H2O, and can control PAR and temperature.

Alternatively, you can assess the volume of gas produced by an aquatic plant. This is perfect for investigating the rate of photosynthesis if you have limited resources, don't need high levels of accuracy, and don't care which species of plant you study.

Cut the stem of an Elodea plant diagonally. Put it in a small graduated cylinder full of water without introducing any bubbles. Invert the cylinder into a beaker full of water with the top covered so no air gets in. Place the beaker in light. Either count the number of bubbles produced, or leave the experiment for a long time and measure the volume of gas produced. Since bubbles have a variable, undefined volume, counting the number of air bubbles is not precise.

Answer 4

You can measure photosynthesis by taking an aquatic weed and measuring the number of oxygen bubbles given off in a certain time period. Oxygen is a waste product of photosynthesis so the varying rate of bubbles produced is directly related to the rate of photosynthesis.

Answer 5

Do you mean; "what can you use to measure photosynthesis?"

You can use equipment that will allow to assess the rate that oxygen is released. The plant material is placed in a sealed beaker of water, with tubing to collect any gas released. The gas is collected in a syringe to measure it's volume.

A clever piece of equipment that will allow you to measure photosynthesis is a Photosynthesis System.

Look up the scientific papers that are referenced on the Wikipedia page to see which Photosynthesis Systems have been used to study the rate of photosynthesis.

Some Photosynthesis Systems (such as the LCpro+) offer the ability to precisely control the environment of the leaf being measured. This allows you to conduct detailed experiments on the effects of different conditions on the rate of photosynthesis.

Answer 6

During photosynthesis, carbon dioxide and water are converted into oxygen and glucose in the presence of light. The rate of photosynthesis can hence be determined by the production of oxygen as this gas is a product of photosynthesis. For example, a person can count bubbles of oxygen from pondweed or use an oxygen probe to collect oxygen data per unit of time.

It is also possible to measure carbon dioxide uptake as this gas is a raw material of photosynthesis. This can be done by measuring aquatic pH changes per unit time.

Moreover, the rate of photosynthesis can be determined indirectly by measuring the increase in biomass. This method works as the products of photosynthesis are used to produce plant tissues. To do this, a sample dry mass of plant is weighed before and after a time period.

Answer 7

There are several ways: both by measuring the rate of generation of glucose and O2; as well as measuring the rates of uptake of CO2 and H2O.

Answer 8

You can measure the rate of growth in plants.

Answer 9

Measuring photosynthesis via the production of oxygen

Oxygen can be measuredby counting bubbles evolved from pondweed, or by using the Audus apparatus to measure the amount of gas evolved over a period of time.