PHOTOSYNTHESIS LAB 

REPORT  

Julia Curtiss 
11.02.2018 
AP Biology 

RESEARCH QUESTION 

How does light intensity affect the rate of photosynthesis? 

 
DATA 

Number of floating discs in  Number of floating discs in  Number of floating discs in 
Time (minutes) 
cup 1 (5 inches away)  cup 2 (20 inches away)  cup 3 (35 inches away) 

0  0  0  0 

1  0  0  0 

2  5  0  0 

3  6  1  0 

4  9  2  0 

5  10  2  0 

6  10  2  0 

7  10  2  0 

8  10  5  0 

9  10  6  0 

10  10  6  0 

11  10  7  0 

12  10  8  0 

13  10  9  0 

14  10  9  1 

1   
 15  10  9  1 

16  10  9  1 

17  10  9  1 

18  10  9  1 

19  10  10  1 

20  10  10  1 

21  10  10  1 

22  10  10  1 

23  10  10  1 

24  10  10  1 

25  10  10  1 

GRAPH 

2   
CLAIM 

The higher the intensity of light, the more leaf discs rose to the surface at a faster rate. 
Stronger light intensity sped up the rate of photosynthesis in plants.  

EVIDENCE  

Cup 1, the cup closest to the light source (5 inches away), had all its discs rise within 5 
minutes. Cup 2, the middle cup (20 inches away from the light source), had all its discs 
rise within 19 minutes, meanwhile the farthest cup (35 inches away from the light 
source), cup 3, only had 1 disc rise in the 25 minute time period. 

REASONING 

Light intensity directly affects the light-dependent reaction in photosynthesis and 

indirectly affects the light-independent reaction. As you rise from low light intensity to 
higher light intensity, the rate of photosynthesis will increase because there is more light 
available to drive the reactions of photosynthesis. During photosynthesis, plants trap 
light energy with their leaves. Plants use the energy of the sun to change water and 
carbon dioxide into a sugar called glucose. Glucose is used by plants for energy and to 
make other substances like cellulose and starch. 

3