Science 32

Green plants absorb and convert light energy into chemical energy for use during photosynthesis, a process by which plants make sugar.

Green plants do not absorb green light, though. Green light is reflected, thereby making leaves appear green.

Experiment 1

Two students investigated the effects of different colored lights on photosynthesis. They created a filter that blocked green light, a filter that blocked red light, and a filter that blocked all light. Each filter was placed on a leaf, as shown in Figure 1. The rate of photsynthesis in the various portions of the leaf was determined indirectly by measuring starch (sugar) concentration.

The results are summarized in Table 1.

Figure 1

Table 1