Photosynthesis

and the carbon cycle

> 1.1 Photosynthesis
Exercise 1.1 A How light level affects
photosynthesis
Focus
In this exercise, you will decide which variables to keep the same in an
experiment. You will put results into a table and make a conclusion.
Arun does an experiment to investigate whether plants photosynthesise
faster when they have more light.
The diagram shows the apparatus he uses.

Apparatus A Apparatus B ApparatusC

Arun puts Apparatus A next to a window.

He puts Apparatus Bin a shady corner. oft he same room.
He puts Apparatus C in a dark cupboard.
 1 .1 Photosynthesis

1 What should Arun try to keep the same for all three sets of apparatus?
Tick ( ✓) three boxes.

the amount of light □

the type of plant □
the mass of the plant □
the number of bubbles □
the temperature □
Arun leaves his three sets of apparatus for two days.
Then he measures the volume of gas collected in each
test tube.
This is what he writes down.
A 1~.3 cm'
B 7.'2- Cm
3

C 0.5 cm'
2 Complete Arun's results table.

Apparatus Amount of li~hl

A
B
C

3 What conclusion can Arun make from his results?

Tick (✓)one box.
Plants need chlorophyll for photosynthesis. D
Plants that live in water photosynthesise more slowly
than plants that live on land. D
Plants photosynthesise faster when they have more light. D
Plants use water for photosynthesis. D
1 Photosynthesis and the carbon cycle )

Exercise 1.1B The effect of different colours

of light on the rate of photosynthesis
Practice
This exercise gives·you practice i1l recording rcsulLs, and al.S!> thinking
[Link] variables in an experiment.
Marcu.~ wanted t9 fin:d out-which-colour of ligh.t would make a plant
photosynthesise fastest. .
The diagram shows the apparatus that. he set up.

red cellopl\ane [Link] cellophane

water

test tube test tube

water plant water plant

green cellophane [Link]

water water

test tube test tube

[Link]>-tr water plant 11..,..-,,r wciter plant

Marcus shone a light onto each tube. He counted the number of bubbles
that the waler plant gave olfin om: minute. He did this three times for
each water plant.
These are his result$.
r-d - 10, 12., II blue - ~. 12., 10
1..-een - 4, 5, '" coloudes$ - 11, 13, 12.
 1.1 Photosynthesis

1 What was lhe variable that Marcus changed in his experiment?

2 What was the variable that Marcus measured in his experiment?

3 List three variables that Marcus should have kept the same in
his experiment.

first variable ............................................................................................

second variable .......................................................................................

third variable ......................................................................................... .

4 Draw a results table in the space below, and @I in Marcus's results

so that they are easy to understand. Remember to include a column
where you can write in the mean value for each set of results.

5 >
 1 Photosynthesis and the carbon cycll!' )

5 Complete the bar cha:rt lo show Mar cus's results:

~ ~i i· -
11 I I
. .
,_ -
J.
.

I•
I
•

'
' ,{ ,~
• I· · , ••
I I
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....- -
f-·..,-

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~
+
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,.
- -
I
,,
I i :·
·- :.!
.....,' ··- •:J
... I .! •.. :
- :-: 1-::: I .. I '"·•• •·
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I II I I
red green blue white
Colour of light

6 Write down a conclusion that Marcus can make from his results.

Exercise 1.1 C Turning an idea into a

hypothesis that can be tested
Challenge
1n this challenging wsk, you will choose an idea and then tum iL into
a ~[Link] that can be tested ~y scientific experiment. Then you will
write a phm for the experiment.
Mere is an i4ca about water plants and photosynthcsi~.
Idea: Carbon dioxide is one of the raw materia)s fo.r photosynthesis.
We can provide extra carbon dioxide to a water plant by bubbling
carbon dioxide [Link] Lhe wal.c:r, This could aUQw lhe water plant to
photosynthesise faster.
 1.1 Photosynthesis

1 Use the idc:a lo write do,vn a hypolhe:,is that you could tc:sl by
doing a n experiment.
Check your hypothesis with your teacher before you move on to
question 2 .

2 Use this page and the next to write a plan for an experiment you
could do to test your hypothesis.
• Try t.o make your plan really clear and detailed, so that
someone else could follow il to do your experiment.
• Include a labelled diagram of the apparntui1 you would IL.'IC•
• Draw a resulls chart with headings .
• Predict what you think the results might be, giving a reason for
your prediction.
• Remember to state your independent variable, dependent
variable and the variables that you will try lo keep the same.
 1.2 More about photosynthesis

> 1.2 More about

photosynthesis
Exercise 1.2A Duckweed experiment
Focus
In chis cxcrcis.c. you will practise planning experiments, recording results
and makin8 conclusions.
Sofia docs an experiment to find out if extra [Link] fertiliser helps
duckweed plants to grow and reproduce faster.
She takes five dishes and puts the same volume of distilled water into
each of them. She labels the dishes A. B, C, D and E.
She adds one grain of fertiliser to dish B, two grains to dish C,
Lhree grains to dish D and four grains to dish E.
She puts five duckweed plants into each dish.

□ □

□ □

dud1~ed plants grains or l ertllll<lr

□
1 Photosynth esis and the carbon cycle >
1 Write the number of grnins of fertiliser l.h al Sofia puts into each
dish in the boxes next to each diagram.

2 Which variabk does Sofia clwnge in her experiment?

Tick(✓) the correct ansWcr.

number of duckweed plants 0

volume of water 0
quantity of fcrtlli~cr 0
3 Which v-,u:iables ~hould Solia keep the same in her e.11perimenl'!
Tick ( ✓) all the correct answers.
number of duckw~d plant<i D
quantity of fertiliser 0
light intensity 0
Vt)lume of water 0
temperatur e 0
After two weeks, Sofia counts the number of duckweed planls in each
dish. She writes the results in her notebook.

-.,. •
- :.J
L..[Link]<lnts
::II"

-•
_,..
'1'I
C 10 ple1nl s 1) S ple1nls

___.
'!!I
£ n0 ple1n-l.s

4 Complete the results chart.

Oish Nu..,be.- of cynins of fe..-liliser [Link] of ple1nis «l etid of u per ,wienl

A 0 5

10 )
 1.2 More about photosynthesis

5 Drdw ?- bar-cb:[Link] Lo display Sofia' [Link]\s.

Put. ' number of s -r ains offcrtilisc ( on the horizontal a xis.
Pul ·n~mber of planls at end of experumml' on [Link] vertical axis.

Sofia says:

From my •~~etiment, I cO('clude that

duckweed plants grow and reproduce faste •
lhlteY, have eS(tn, nitraJe\iertillser: BU't tell!
m1:11.~ nrt;!Pte. fertrl~er-~ops them growln
and rep~ugog,
'

11 )
1 Photosynthesis and the carbon tycle )

6 Explain how Sofia's results support her conclusion.

...........................................................................................................................
·············.. ········•···········································............................ . ....................
,.._.

........................ ············"' ........................................ ' ......................................

7 How can Sofia improve her experi men t"!

Tick ( ✓) the correct answer.

Use three sets of di~he~ for each quantity of fertiliser. D

Use: a different kind of waler plant in each dish. D
Put each dish in a different temperature. D

Exercise 1.2B Testing a variegated leaf

for starch
Practice
In this exercise;:. you will provide explanations using your sc:.ientific knowledge.
Zara found a plant that had leaves with some green areas and some
white areas. Leaves like lhis are called variegated leaves.

green

She decided to test one of the leaves for starch using iodine solution. She
made this prediction:
l"he ~..-eeri par-ls of the leaf ..iii\ coritalri s-1.a,-ch, bu-I. -[Link] ...hi-le par-ls
will ri0t.
 1.2 More about photosynthesis

1 What is the substance that makes leaves green?

• • • • • • • . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . .. . . . .. .. . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . ... ... .. . . . . . . . . . .. . . .. .. . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . ✓. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . · ... . .

2 Explain why Zara's prediction is llkelytQ be correct,

· ··· · ·····..,.········· · ····· · ··· ·· ··••·•• ···· ................. .................. . ·····•·•·· · · ······ • •.. • .••••••. u,,, ••..•.• • •

3 [Link], Zara. put the leaf into boiling water. and lefc it there for
5minutes.
Explain [Link] did this.

•····· · ········ ····· ···•·••···· ... •·•·•·••·......... ................... ;.,,,,.1 .•••••• •• , ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• ._.......... .

····••,•············ ....................___. ...................... ...........······························•·,0·•· ..............

4 Next, she took the leaf o ut of the water and put it into some
hot'alcoho!.
Explafo why she did this.

s, La~ll.y, Zara dipped the leaf [Link] water and spread it out cm a white
l,ile. Theleaflooked white,
She added [Link] to tho leaf. Som1e parts of the leaf went
orange-brown, and [Link] went blue-blavk. ·
On the diagram below, shade in the parts of tho leaf that would go
blue-black. if Za;ra's_prediction was correi;l.

6 What substance causes the iodine to turn blue-black?

4 •• ~ ' .,

• . . • • • • • • • • • • • • . . • .. • • • • • • • • ' b . . . . . . . . . . . . . • • • • • . .. . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. , . , • • • , . , • . , ..., , • . , , . , , , • • •
• ••"•
1 Photosynthesis and the carbo n cycle )

Exercise 1.2 C Floating discs exp erim ent

Challenge
In this Lask. you will interpret (he resulls or an experiment. You will
think about variables, write a oonclusion and use your scient ific
knowledge 10 explai n a set of results.
Sofia and Zara do an experiment to investigate photo synthesis.
They cut ten little discs o ut of a lear, Each disc is exaclly the same size
and is cut fro m the same leaf.
They put one disc int o [Link] in a small beake r and shine light onto
il.
Litllc \>ubblcs appea r on the underside of the leaf disc.
After a whi le, the bubbles of gas make 1he leaf disc Ooat to the surface
of the water.
Sofia and Zara record the time taken for the leaf disc to float to the
surface. then repeal their experiment with four more leaf discs.

leaf disc

(23 ~ bubbles

1 Name the gas that the leaf disc produced when It photoi;ynthcsiscd.

······················································ ··········•···········-♦---··············
' • ••••• • • ..................
.

2 .Explain why the bubbles of gus formed on the under side of the
leaf, not on the top.

• •••• ••••••••••• •• •••••••• .. ••••••• •••••••••• ••••••••••

•••••• •••••••• .. •0&•••u•... •••• .. •••••••••• ••••••·••·•• ..
••• ♦ ho

•••·•• • • ••••••••·•· ••••••••• •-••••·•·••·•·••••••••• ••••-• •••·••••••• ••••·oooo uo,,,,,,,,

,,,,, ••n•-•••• ••••••••••

3 In what way does the time taken for the leaf disc lo rise <1nd noal
depend on the bubbles of gas? Bx plain your answe r.

••••••••·•·• •••••••••• ••~.. ••••• •• ••••••·•••• •••••·• •••••••••• ••••·•·•••••

••••-••••• •••oou••• •••••••·•-•·••...,..•••• •••• ••·•·••

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,,.,, ,,,,,,,,,, ,, ,,,, , ••••• ••••••·•••• •• ••••••••

····· ····················.. ·········· ···········-············· ···········································--····••········--·

 1.2 More about photosynthesis

Sofia and Zari, d0 the investigation again. but this time they .[Link] the.
beaker and the leaf'discs in .a room "Vilh 6nly dim lighting, ·
Here are· the girls; results from both tests.

Time. lak_en fo,- leaf d.i~ le rise. to -lhe su.-face, in seconds

Car,d,ili,OI\S Tr':1 1 T.-':lz_ T':I 3 T':I 4 T.-':I ~ [Link]
b,-ijhl l!jhl 14 3 12- 14 11
44 77
4.
di"' li+l

Suggest the hypothesis lh<!,t lhe girls were testing .

'" b'l 71

....... ........························· ······-·..·· ...................."''''' ·······~········•··•·•••1••f·••·······...... •

• • •••• ••• • •• •• • ••••••• •••• ••••••••• ••• •• •••• ••••• •• • ••••••·•••• ••• ••• •••••• o.. •••• -••·••--•• • •••• • •·• •• • • ••••• • • •••••o ♦ o

S What was the independent variable in the girls' experiment?

•. ••·"-""", ·' """•~•••·•••·••••••• ....,·•·• .. ••••• •• .. ••• .. ••••••"•"'''' '''' ''''' ' ''' ' ' '••••••••••• ••••n••••·••••••••u•,o .. o, oo.o

6 Sofia thought that there [Link] result in each row of

their results tal:>le.
Draw [Link] the tw<i- anomalous-results in the [Link].

7 Calculate the mean time t_a ken for [Link] row in the result~ tabl'c..
Write your answers in tb.e lastcolumn.
Remember not to include ailomalou$'rilsultswhc n you caJculatc
the mean.

8 Suggest why the times taken for the five leaf discs 10 ri~e in each Qf

15 )
1 Photosynth&sis and the carbon cycle )

the lighting conditions were 1101 all the same.

... ....... •·••·· ....······••·•·•·••·····......... ~

-.......,......... •·••·••·•--•····•···••·•·••···...•·•....................••·•·•·•

9 Write a conclu.~ion for the girls' eitpcrin,cnt.

10 Suggest an explanation for the difference between the mean times

for the leaf discs to rise in bright light and in [Link].
 1.3 The carbon cycle

> 1.3 The carbon cycle

Exercise 1.3 Completing a carbon
cycle diagram
The d iagram shows part of the carbon cycle.

l;<'tbo/l dio•lde
- -~ lnmulr ,~ - -

Cllbollydra1os carbon compounds In

lnd«om ~ forsll fuels,[Link] aw

@rbohydr~tc.s carbohydraces
inanr,nels In green plants

Focus

1 On the diagram. write these labels next to the correct arrows:

R next to the th ree arrows that show respiration
P next to the one arrow that shows photosynthesis
C next to [Link] arrow that shows fossil fuels being formed
D next to the two arrows that show decomposi tion
F next to the one arrow that shows feeding.

Practice
Hydrogencarbonate indicator changes colour according to how
much carbon dfoxide there isin it.
• The indicator is purple when there is no carbon dioxide.
• The indicator is red when there is a low [Link] of
carbon [Link].
• The indicator is yellow when there is a high concentration of
carbon d ioxide.
1 Photosynthe~is and the carbon cycle )

Arun set up four boiling tubes-like this:

hydrogencarbona
indkator

water plant
A 8 C b

Arun recorded the colour of tbe indicator in each tube at the start cif
his experiment. The,n he lefl the tubes in the laboratory for two hqurs.,
and recordeclthe colour again.
This is what he [Link].

~
~ A ,.-ed, ..-eel
-•
~
C ,.-et.11 [Link] t) reel, ..-e&
~

2 Sl!ggest why Aruil put a bung [Link] lube.

·············································································•·••···••············~···················

3 Name two variables that Arun kept the same in his experiment..

......................... ,.........................................................................................
 1.3 The carbon q,cle

4 Construct il results table in the s,pace below, and complete it to

show Arun's results.

5 Explain Arun's [Link] .

.. ............. ... ..... .... ... .. ................... ........

...... .. .......... ... ..... ...................... ...... .... ;.

.......................................................................,.........-~----···· ........................................ .

Challenge
6 Use Anm's results, and the diqgrnm or the carbon cycre, lo explain
the importance of plants in maintaining a stable concentration of
'--arbon dioxide in lhe atmosphere.

··············,··················••t••···..············••.•························.. ···········--····················
••·•·•·••·•••••••••·••••••••••••••••••••..,•••·•·•·•••••• •••••• •••••••••••••••• .. • ••u•••••••••••••••••• ••••••••••••••oo•••••

......................................................................................... , ......................... .
1 Photosynthesis and the carbon cycle )

> 1.4 Climate change

Exercise 1.4 Interpreting gr aphs about
climate change
In this exercise, you will look at graphs displa}ilig data collected by
NASA (the USA's National Aeronatuties and Space Admi ns!ralion) and
NOAA (theUSA's National [Link] an!! Atinosph~rc AdmiQstration).
You will need to study th,: graphs [Link] to answer lhe questions, and
~so use your own knowledge a6out phoJosynthesis. th'c car.b-On cycle
and climate change.

Focus
Herc are three graphs ab-Out climate change.
Graph A
+ 250
.
. I

+200
,_
' ·'- -
·- - - - I r

7 I' 1I : - ,/ '
+150 -

Change in sea '- t:.::. ✓ ..

level ln niin +.100 -
r- ✓
-
-- i'
~ • •
+50 •
' t../
...J. .
0
·--
-
-
~
--
➔-
•· - -
-
-so
1880 1900 1920 1940 1960 1980 2000 2'020
[Link]
 1.4 Climate change

Grapb B

e
1 7
0.6 +--'--+----r--""r'i'"'-,.' -t--t---+--'\t-"--+-~-t
.. 1
Extent of lea ice In the
Bering Sea (in the Arctic) 0.4 .t::::::l:::;:::.f.;;::;:~:.=~..,..;.:!!.!..~~~..,-+-\--1-~.'.:l
in millionsofkm'

0.0-·1,,c::~Fi":::::::.J.--l-![Link]-..L-l-....::.:..µ:::::=:;:,..~
·Oct Nov Dec Jari Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul
Date

Graph C
0.042 ~

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0.040
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I
Percentage '
I I
he
-.. -
~·A ~
:Cilrbon dioxide '
0.0~6 A

I ~ - - v•
HU •
concentration·in -- -1- - ~~N' V, - ~- - · - I
·the atmosphet"e . I ..--,. ,._, I '· '
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0.030 . I
1960 196S 1970 197S 1980 198S 1990 199S 2000 200S 2010 2015 2020
I I

Year

1 Write the lt tter of the graph t~at matches each of these statements.

There is more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere now than there

used t:o be............................... ·-···

Sea level is steadily rising.....................................

Sea ice in the Arctic is present for fewer months fo t he year now,

and there is less of it. ....... .,.......................... .

1 Photosyntlhesis and the carbon cycle )

Practice

2 Look at graph A.
D,esttibe in wor<ls what is .sboW11on the graph. Include some
figures in your answer, for example by stating the change in sea
le,,el since 1880.

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····•···•···..·············································...··························· ···•······•·····················
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............................... ·•·····-·•·........... ..... ........... . ........................................................

~

3 Look at griiph B .
Descnbe two.,yays in which the exum1or sea iee in the Bering Sea in
2017 to 2018 diffcrep. from th~ mean ex-rent from 1979 to 2016.

lsl way ····•·•.. •l••········· ........................................ u . . . , . .. . . - . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . .. . . .

2nd way ...................... _... _.................- .................................................. ..

••••• .. ~·~•·•••• .. h •oo•Ooo•o•oo• •H ooo+ o• •H ♦• . . ••••••••••oo,ooH•"'''"'•••••••••••oooo•••••oooooooooo ♦ ooo• oooooooo

Challenge
4 Look at graph B again.
What extra data would you want to collect. in order to be certain
that the extent o(sea ice re:ally is ciianging·! Explain your answec.
 1.4 Oimate change

5 Look at graph C.
Most scientists think that human activities are contributing to the
chitoges in carbon dioxide conceotra1ion shown in the graph.
Use your own knowledge to explain why they think this .

.........................................................................................................................
. .

6 Look at graph C again.

T he [Link] of carbon dioxide eonccn.t ration were made in
Hawaii, which is in the northern hellllspbere.
Thinking alx>ut plants and [Link], suggest l"hy the line
wiggles up and down (varies throughout) each year.

, .................................................................... ,.................................................
................................ . ................................................................................................
•••••••••••••• •••••-••••••••• ._. ......... ... ................ ........ ....... ••••••~••••••••••• .. ••~••••••••••• .. •••••••h••

, ................,..... ...........;.............................................................................................
._