NATIONAL
SENIOR CERTIFICATE
GRADE 11
13 - 17 MAY 2024
ASSIGNMENT : TOPIC - PHOTOSYNTHESIS
TOTAL: 50 TIME: 60 minutes
INSTRUCTIONS AND INFORMATION
Read the following instructions carefully before answering the questions.
1. This is a formal SBA task and needs to be done under supervised conditions
in the classroom.
2. Each learner completes this task on his/her own (under test conditions).
3. Present your answers per the instructions of each question.
4. Draw all diagrams in pencil and labels in blue ink.
5. The diagrams in this task may NOT be drawn to scale.
Answer all questions in the spaces provided.
1 Some students investigated the effect of temperature on the rate of photosynthesis in
pondweed, a plant that lives in water.
(a) The students set up the apparatus shown.
water
support funnel
To measure the rate of photosynthesis, the students counted the number of bubbles of gas
produced in five minutes.
They started the investigation by measuring the temperature of the water in the beaker.
(i) Use the thermometer in the diagram below to read the first temperature taken. Record
the temperature in the table on page 4 and complete the table heading. [2]
°C
20
10
rate of photosynthesis
temperature / .............. / number of bubbles in
five minutes
20 22
30 35
40 37
50
60
The students recorded the number of bubbles of gas produced by the pondweed for five
minutes using a tally chart.
They replaced the water with warmer water, measured its temperature and again counted
the number of bubbles of gas produced by the pondweed for five minutes. They
recorded their results as before.
The students then transferred their results to the table.
(ii) Complete the table by adding the number of bubbles to the rate of photosynthesis column.
[2]
(b) (i) Construct a line graph of the data in the table on the grid. Join your points
with ruled, straight lines. [4]
(ii) Use your graph to estimate the number of bubbles produced in five
minutes at 25 °C to the nearest whole number. Show your working on the graph.
number of bubbles ......................................................... [2]
(c) Use the data and your graph to describe the effect of temperature on the rate
of photosynthesis.
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(d) (i) Explain why measuring the volume of gas produced instead of counting the
bubbles would have been a better method.
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(ii) In this investigation the gas was collected in a test-tube. Name a piece
of apparatus that could replace the test-tube to collect and measure the volume
of gas released.
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(e) (i) Design an investigation based on the apparatus shown in the diagram in (a)
to find the effect of using different masses of pondweed on the rate of photosynthesis.
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(ii) Predict the effect of increasing the mass of pondweed on the rate of photosynthesis.
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(f) Glucose produced in photosynthesis is stored as starch in leaves.
Describe how you would test a green leaf for starch and how you would know
that starch was present.
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[Total: 27]
QUESTION 2
Scientists investigated how temperature affects the rate of photosynthesis. They grew
some orange trees in a greenhouse. They used discs cut from the leaves of the young
orange trees. The scientists measured the rate of oxygen released by the leaf discs in
the light. They also measured the rate of oxygen uptake by the leaf discs in the dark.
Rate of oxygen production( arbitrary units)
Temperature OC
Key:
--------- Oxygen production in the light
_____ Oxygen production in light added to http://www.savemyexams.co.uk/
2.1 What is a greenhouse? (2)
2.2 Why do farmers make use of greenhouses? (2)
2.3 State the effect of temperature on oxygen production in the light when the
temperature is increased…
(a) from 25°C to 35°C (1)
(b) from 40°C to 50°C. (1)
2.4 A farmer wants to grow orange trees in a greenhouse. He wants to sell the
oranges he produces at a local market. He decides to heat the greenhouse to
40°C.
Explain why he should not heat the greenhouse to a temperature higher than
40°C. (3)
2.5 Name TWO other factors that are required for photosynthesis (2)
(11)
QUESTION 3
3.1 The diagram below illustrates some investigations carried out on
photosynthesis. The plant was kept in the dark room for 48 hours before
being placed in sunlight.
Leaf B Leaf C
Aluminum
foil
Leaf A
Potassium hydroxide
solution (absorbs
CO2)
3.1.1 What is the aim of the experiment at…
(a) Leaf A? (2)
(b) Leaf B? (2)
3.1.2 What is the purpose of leaf C? (1)
3.1.3 Explain why the plant was kept in the dark room for 48 hours before
being placed in sunlight. (2)
3.1.4 Starch tests were carried out on the three leaves. Name the chemical
reagent that was used to test for the presence of starch. (1)
3.1.5 Give the result of the experiments on Leaf A, and Leaf C. (2)
3.1.6 Provide a reason for the result of starch test on Leaf A. (2)
(12)
[TOTAL MARKS – 50 MARKS]
