I have to write a design for an experiment to test the rate of photosynthesis of the waterplant elodea with different temperatures.(where the independent variable is the water temperature) The design has to include a 'control experiment'. I know that if i would test the rate of photosynthesis with different light intensities the 'control experiment' would be setting up the same experiment just with no light to check if the temperature has any influence. However i dont know what the equivalent to 'no light' would be in an experiment testing temperature influence as i cannot do the same with 'no temperature'.
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Use normal room temperature as the control about 25 degrees C. Then run the same procedures at lower and higher temperatures. Be sure you have an good heat filter in place when running the experiments as flood lights typically used produce a tremendous amount of heat. The most difficulty part of the experiment may be controlling the other variables such as light intensity, availability of carbon dioxide, measuring the amount of oxygen being evolved. You may want to run several different procedures to determine which set of variable produces the best rates of photosynthesis.
Good luck with your experiments!
Good luck with your experiments!
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You could set a temperature as the control temperature and then change the temperature for comparison.