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The Effect Of Light Intensity On Photosynthetic Rates

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The Effect of Light Intensity on Photosynthetic Rates
Tina Means
Lab Partners: D. Northness, N. Cruz, and J. Mayes
March 19, 2015
Introduction
In order to survive, all organisms need to have a source of energy. Photosynthesis is the process by which plants use light energy and simple molecules to make chemical energy. The majority of all living things on earth benefit either directly or indirectly from the ability of photoautotrophs to do photosynthesis. Plants provide oxygen to Earth’s atmosphere and all animals, including humans, depend on plant material for food or to feed the food that they ultimately consume. Photosynthesis takes place inside the chloroplasts of a eukaryotic cell. Many factors affect the rate of photosynthesis in photoautotrophs including temperature, carbon dioxide concentration, the presence of water, and light intensity.
The photosynthesis process occurs in two main stages, the light reactions, and the Calvin Cycle. The light reactions of photosynthesis take place in the thylakoid membrane. This is where light energy is turned into chemical energy in the form of ATP and NADPH. The ATP and NADPH then enter the Calvin Cycle which takes place in the stroma of the chloroplasts. The Calvin Cycle builds large molecules from small carbons to make sugars that are used for energy. The overall equation for photosynthesis that occurs in plants is as follows:
Light Energy + 6 CO2 + 6 H2O  C6H12O6 + 6 O2
Since plants are eukaryotic, they not only do

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