Computer Transpiration Lab

Here's what my table looked like for the lab:

Analysis Questions:

1) Describe the process of transpiration in vascular plants.

The process of evaporation through stomata (which are almost always on the tops of plants' leaves) is called transpiration.

2) Describe any experimental controls used in this investigation.

The controls were the amount of plant used, time of 1 hour for transpiration, and starting temperature conditions.

3) What environmental factors that you tested increased the rate of transpiration? Was the rate of transpiration increased for all plants tested?

The environmental factors tested were wind, heat, and light. Each factor increased transpiration rate in all plants, with one exception: light slightly decreased the rubber plant's transpiration rate.

4) Did any of the environmental factors (heat, light, or wind) increase the transpiration rate more than the others? Why?

Wind increased the transpiration rate more than the others probably because it increases the movement of the leaves, thereby moving around the water and washing off the waxy layer on the leaf.

5) Which species of plants that you tested had the highest transpiration rates? Why do you think different species of plants transpire at different rates?

The rubber plant had the highest transpiration rates. Some species of plants might transpire at different rates based on the environment they live in. For example, plants in a hot desert might have adapted transpire slower to retain water as much as possible.

6) Suppose you coated the leaves of a plant with petroleum jelly. How would the plant's rate of transpiration be affected?

The petroleum jelly would decrease transpiration rate because it would block the stomata on the plant's leaves.

7) Of what value to a plant is the ability to lose water through transpiration?

Through cohesion and adhesion, water is carried up through the plant's xylem. Once the water has been evaporated through transpiration, more water is carried up. The water has nutrients from the soil, allowing nutrients to continually be traveling through and absorbed by the plant.