Title: Limiting factors - Photosynthesis and plants (CCEA) - GCSE Combined Science Revision - CCEA Double Award - BBC Bitesize
Headings: Limiting factors
Photosynthesis and plants (CCEA)
Add to My Bitesize
Limiting factors
Light
Carbon dioxide
Temperature
Commercial growth

Content: Light
As light intensity increases so too does the rate of photosynthesis until a certain point where the graph levels off. At lower light intensities, light is the limiting factor because an increase in light causes an increase in photosynthesis. At higher light intensities (plateau of graph), further increasing the light intensity does not increase the rate of photosynthesis meaning that another factor is limiting photosynthesis. On a hot day, photosynthesis happens at a higher rate when compared to the cooler day, showing that temperature has an effect and is the limiting factor on a cooler day. An increased level of carbon dioxide leads to a higher rate of photosynthesis when compared to the lower carbon dioxide level. This shows that the carbon dioxide level has an effect and is now limiting the rate of photosynthesis. Carbon dioxide
As carbon dioxide concentrations increase, so too does the rate of photosynthesis until a certain point where the graph levels off. At lower carbon dioxide concentrations carbon dioxide is the limiting factor because an increase in carbon dioxide causes an increase in photosynthesis. At higher carbon dioxide concentrations (plateau of graph), further increasing the carbon dioxide concentration does not increase the rate of photosynthesis meaning another factor is limiting photosynthesis. Temperature
Temperature affects all reactions because an increase in temperature causes the molecules involved to gain kinetic energy and therefore react more frequently.