Biology Lab Report

Mohd Hafeez Azman

M03K

To Investigate and Measure Factor Affecting Rate of Transpiration

Research Question
How does light intensity affect the rate of transpiration of terrestrial plant?
How does temperature affect the rate of transpiration of terrestrial plant?

Hypothesis
Transpiration is a process where a plant loses water vapour from the leaves and the
stem of the plant. Light intensity, humidity, wind and availability of soil water can
affect the rate of transpiration in plant. When there is light, the guard cell will increase
the size of the stomata thus transpiration is much greater in the light. Also, when the
temperature is higher, the transpiration rate is increased as it will increase the rate of
diffusion through the air spaces in the spongy mesophyll and reduce the relative
humidity of the air outside the leaf.
Therefore, the hypothesis is that the higher the light intensity and temperature, the
higher the rate of transpiration.

Variables
Independent  Light intensity, Temperature
Dependent  Rate of transpiration
Constant  Method, set of apparatus, number of leaves, length of plant.

Apparatus
150 cm3 conical flask (3), 10 cm3 measuring cylinder (1), sensitive electronic weight
(1), retort stand (2), large basin (1), small knife (1), desk lamp (1)

Materials
Distilled water, oil, plant (2)
Methodology
1. Two plants with the same number of leaves was cut at the same length with a 45
degrees cut using a small knife in a large basin filled with distilled water.
2. Three 150 cm3 conical flask were weighted and then each filled with 100 cm 3 of
distilled water. It is then weighted again. The data is recorded.
3. The 2 plants were then quickly removed from the basin and the base of the stem
that was cut is dipped inside of the distilled water in 2 measuring cylinder labeled
A and B. The last measuring cylinder that was not placed with a plant is the
controlled experiment.
4. 5 cm3 of oil was poured on top of the distilled water each inside the measuring
cylinder carefully and spread evenly to prevent water loss. The measuring cylinder
was weighted again (refer diagram A). The data was recorded.
5. All three measuring cylinder was stationed inside of the laboratory. Measuring
cylinder B was given extra light by using the desk lamp. The plant was supported
with the retort stand.
6. The data was taken for the time intervals of 3 hours (3 times a day), for 2
consecutive days.

Data Collection

Mass of A, m (g) Mass of B, m (g)

Conical Flask 75.50 76.40
Conical Flask + Distilled
183.48 186.33
Water
Conical Flask + Distilled
191.22 195.80
Water + Oil

Date data taken Time data taken, t Mass of Conical Mass of Conical
(hour) Flask A, m (g) Flask B, m (g)
13 July 2004 10.00 am 191.22 195.80
13 July 2004 1.00 pm 175.99 168.66
13 July 2004 4.00 pm 166.50 151.60
14 July 2004 10.00 am 142.10 124.80
14 July 2004 1.00 pm 130.50 117.40
!4 July 2004 4.00 pm 123.60 97.30

There are no significant differences for the plant as it look almost the same as the day
before.
Data Processing
Time, t (hour) Mass of water loss Mass of water loss
in Conical Flask A, in Conical Flask B,
m (g) m (g)
0 - -
3 15.23 27.14
6 24.72 44.20
24 49.12 71.00
27 60.72 78.40
30 67.62 98.50
A graph of loss of distilled water, m (g) against time, t (hour) was plotted from the
data. The rate of transpiration can be calculated by the following formula

Graph loss of water against time

120

100
loss of water, m (g)

80

60

40

20

0
0 3 6 9 12 15 18 21 24 27 30
tim e, t (hour)

Conical Flask A Conical Flask B

From the graph we can say that the loss of water of conical flask with the added light
(B) will lose water more than the other conical flask (A). The graph is quite steep at
the first six hour but started to get less steep because the normal sunlight is getting
less intense thus reducing the water loss for both conical flask but with conical flask B
losing more water because of higher light intensity and temperature until the 21 st hour
(7 am). At night, the water loss of conical flask B is greater than A because conical
flask B is supplied with extra light and temperature. Although conical flask A loss
water but the amount is too small. When the sun rises (7 am), the light intensity and
temperature increased thus increasing the water loss. Like the first six hours, the loss
of water of conical flask B is greater than A because there is added temperature and
light intensity. Therefore, the higher the temperature and light intensity, the higher the
loss of water.
Rate of transpiration = Loss of water mass, m (g)
Time, t (hour)

The rate of transpiration of each reading was calculated was calculated

Date data Time data Time, t Rate of Rate of

taken taken, t (hour) (hour) transpiration of transpiration of
Conical Flask A, Conical Flask B,
m (g) m (g)
13 July 2004 10.00 am 0 0.00 0.00
13 July 2004 1.00 pm 3 5.08 9.05
13 July 2004 4.00 pm 6 3.16 5.69
14 July 2004 10.00 am 24 1.36 1.49
14 July 2004 1.00 pm 27 3.87 4.80
14 July 2004 4.00 pm 30 2.30 4.37

For both days, it can determine that the transpiration rate decreases from 1.00 pm to
4.00 pm because the light intensity is getting dimmer and the temperature is getting
lower. Although conical flask B have additional light, it is not enough to keep the
plant from further transpiration. But, for the second day where there can be a
comparison between previous values, the rate is increasing because there are
significant increases in temperature and light intensity as the sun rises. This is all
because of the photoperiodic properties of the plants as it will respirate and do
photosynthesis at its own control.
Evaluation
From the experiment, there are some flaws that could have changed the real results of
the experiment.
1. The set of apparatus is not quite applicable as the oil might be evaporated thus
reducing the mass of the whole conical flack content. To overcome this flaw,
plastic should be placed on top of the conical flask exposing the plant stem. It will
prevent the water to evaporate if there is any. Although the controlled experiment
shows that there is change of value of the mass of the whole conical flask, it is still
not determined that some water vapour might evaporate inside the conical flask
and went out of the conical flask itself.
2. The oil layer might touch the exposed lower stem thus forming a layer of oil
which can prevent the water from creating an unbroken water column thus
critically changing the real result. By lifting the plant out from the distilled water,
the water column will also be broken. To overcome this problem, the plant was
not taken out during the weighing process. Although, there are a slight ± 1 gram
of uncertainties because the plant create some osmotic pressure inside the conical
flask, the uncertainties is to minimal to be taken as a serious matter to the
experiment.
3. The plants chosen are too big and have a huge canopy-like leaf. The light source
cannot fully occupies all of the leaves thus the experiment result might be wrong
as some leaf thus not receive the same amount of heat and light intensity as other
leaves. To over come this problem, several desk lamp should be placed
accordingly with the same length from the nearest leaf and fully occupies all of
the leaf involves. This will create a more reliable condition for the experiment to
become a success.
4. The surface area of the leaves of the two plants might not be the same. This will
also create a problem as it will vary the constant variable and become one of the
independent variable thus changing the experiment’s results. To overcome this
problem, the surface area of the top layer of the leaves should be measured using
graph paper and recorded. The extra area can be deducted by picking out several
leaves that have the same value. Although this process might be troublesome and
take a lot of time, this will ensure the reliability of the data obtained.
Conclusion
From the graph plotted, it can be said that the rate of transpiration is directly
proportional to the increase in temperature. Temperature and light intensity can
therefore increase the rate on transpiration. The hypothesis is accepted.
Appendix A

Diagram 1
 Humidity
IV: HIGH HUMIDITY ( TRANSPARENT PLASTIC OVER LEAF SHOOT), LOW
HUMIDITY (FAN / HAIR DRYER NEAR LEAF SHOOT), NORMAL LEAF
SHOOT.
DV: RATE OF MOVEMENT OF WATER IN THE LEAFY SHOOT
CV: TEMPERATURE, LIGHT INTENSITY, WIND SPEED, SIZE OF
POTOMETER, SPECIES/AGE OF LEAF, NUMBER OF LEAVES, TIME
INTERVAL.
Wind Speed
IV: HIGH (FAN / HAIR DRYER NEAR LEAF SHOOT), STILL AIR (CLOSED
ROOM)
Light Intensity
IV: HIGH (LAMP INTENSITY HIGH) LOW (LOW LAMP INTENSITY)
Temperature
IV: DIFF TEMPERATURES, 20, 30, 40, 50
APPARATUS:
POTOMETER – 1
LEAFY SHOOT –
STOPWATCH –
WATER
RULER
/ELECTRIC WATER BATH/
/PLASTIC COVER/
/FAN/
/HAIR DRYER/
PROCEDURE:
FILL THE POTOMETER WITH WATER.
INTRODUCE AIR BUBBLES
CUT STEM UNDER WATER
COVER WITH PETROLEUM JELLY
TAKE A FAN AND PLACE IT / PLACE TRANSPARENT COVER / HAIR
DRYER ETC
DO FOR 10 MINS/ SEE THE MOVEMENT
DISTANCE/TIME = RATE
 REPEAT X3- GET AN AVERAGE COUNT
DO THE SAME EXPERIMENT BY CHANGING THE IV
WIND MORE, ROT MORE / ETC
--
MEASURES UPTAKE OF WATER – POTOMETER
UPTAKE OF WATER = LOSS OF WATER: NOT ACCURATE, SOME PART OF
WATER IS USED FOR PHOTOSYNTHESIS AND TO PERFORM CHEMICAL
REACTIONS IN THE PLANT CELL.
--
AUXIN
1. CUT
2. COVER / PIECE OF AGAR - AUXIN WILL PASS THROUGH SHADY
REGION – YES GROWTH – CAN DIFFUSE (SEMI-SOLID)
3. PIECE OF GLASS – NO GROWTH – CANNOT DIFFUSE