Explain6 marksChallenge
A student investigated the effect of carbon dioxide concentration on the rate of photosynthesis in the aquatic plant Elodea at two different light intensities. The temperature was kept constant at 20°C. The rate was measured as the volume of oxygen produced per minute. The results are shown in the table below.
| Carbon dioxide concentration (ppm) | Rate of oxygen production (mm³ min⁻¹) at low light intensity (1000 lux) | Rate of oxygen production (mm³ min⁻¹) at high light intensity (5000 lux) |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
| 200 | 1.0 | 1.0 |
| 400 | 2.0 | 2.0 |
| 600 | 2.5 | 3.5 |
| 800 | 2.8 | 5.0 |
| 1000 | 3.0 | 6.0 |
| 1500 | 3.0 | 6.0 |
Explain the pattern of results shown in the table, using the concept of limiting factors.