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

Content: Limiting factors - Photosynthesis and plants (CCEA) - GCSE Combined Science Revision - CCEA Double Award - BBC Bitesize
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Photosynthesis and plants (CCEA)
Green plants absorb light in their leaves and convert it to energy by photosynthesis. Part of
Combined Science
Living processes
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Limiting factors
The rate of photosynthesis depends on temperature and the availability of light and carbon dioxide. If photosynthesis is to happen at its maximum rate, all environmental factors must be present at the optimum levels. If one or more factors are in short supply, the rate of photosynthesis will be limited. These factors are then limiting factors and the rate of photosynthesis will be determined by the factor that is in shortest supply. 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.