Title: Factors affecting photosynthesis - Photosynthesis - OCR Gateway - GCSE Combined Science Revision - OCR Gateway - BBC Bitesize
Headings: Factors affecting photosynthesis
Photosynthesis
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Factors affecting photosynthesis
Light intensity
Carbon dioxide concentration
Temperature
Chlorophyll
The compensation point

Content: As the light intensity increases the rate of photosynthesis follows (point B on the graph). This means more carbon dioxide is being absorbed by the plant for photosynthesis. So this means more carbon dioxide uptake occurs. The graph shows this increase in carbon dioxide uptake. There will come a point when the rate of photosynthesis has increased to match the rate of respiration. This is called the compensation point (point C on the graph). This is shown on the graph as the point the line crosses zero on the x-axis. Beyond the compensation point, further increases in light intensity cause an increase in photosynthesis. This means the rate of photosynthesis increases beyond the rate of respiration (point D). Now more carbon dioxide is being taken in by the plant for photosynthesis than is produced by the plant during respiration.