Sofía López Ochoa

Biology HL

Transpiration rate lab practice formative activity

Hypothesis 1​: If the leaf in study is left for 30 minutes in a room at 35ºC, then the
transpiration rate is going to increase, because high temperatures promote evaporation
and diffusion to happen quicker, which speeds the transpirational loss of water from the
leaf.

Hypothesis 2​: If the leaf in study is left for 30 minutes facing a fan in which wind travels
at 30km/h, then the transpiration rate is going to increase, because the moving air
removes water vapor, increasing the rate of diffusion of transpirational water loss from
the leaf.

1. Suppose you measure the transpiration rate in a plant using a potometer every 3 minutes
for 30 minutes. These are the results you obtained (in controlled or normal conditions):

Table 1. Results obtained measuring transpiration rate in a plant under controlled conditions.

Control Variable
Transpiration
Time measured Distance (Volume)
Rate per 3min T/
T/min D/ml
ml/min
3 1.0 0.33
 6 1.5 0.50
9 1.3 0.43
12 1.8 0.60
15 1.2 0.40
18 0.9 0.30
21 1.1 0.37
24 1.3 0.43
27 0.9 0.30
30 0.7 0.23
Average Transpiration Rate: 0.39

a) Calculate the rate of transpiration: ​Rate= Distance/ Time (ml/minutes)

Graph 1: Results obtained measuring transpiration rate in a plant under controlled conditions.
 2. Imagine you repeat the experiment changing the independent variables you decided
before. Make two tables (one for each variable) where you write the results you expect to
observe (invent the results, but take into account your hypotheses). Calculate the
transpiration rate for each case and graph your results again.

Table 2. Results obtained measuring transpiration rate in a plant under an elevated temperature
(35ºC).

Temperature
Time Transpiration
measured Distance Temperature Rate per 3min T/
T/min (Volume) D/ml C/ºC ml/min
3 1.3 15.00 0.43
6 1.6 17.50 0.53
9 1.6 20.00 0.53
12 1.7 22.50 0.57
 15 1.8 25.00 0.60
18 1.9 27.50 0.63
21 2.0 30.00 0.67
24 2.1 32.50 0.70
27 2.3 35.00 0.77
30 2.5 37.50 0.83
Average Traspiration Rate: 0.63

Graph 2. Results obtained measuring transpiration rate in a plant under an elevated temperature
(35ºC).

Table 3. Results obtained measuring transpiration rate in a plant facing a fan-wind going at
30km/h.

Wind
 Time Transpiration
measured Distance Wind Velocity Rate per 3min
T/min (Volume) D/ml km/h T/ ml/min
3 0.9 10.00 0.30
6 1.0 15.00 0.33
9 1.1 20.00 0.37
12 1.2 25.00 0.40
15 1.3 30.00 0.43
18 1.5 35.00 0.50
21 1.7 40.00 0.57
24 1.8 45.00 0.60
27 2.0 50.00 0.67
30 2.2 55.00 0.73
Average Traspiration Rate: 0.49

Graph 3. Results obtained measuring transpiration rate in a plant facing a fan-wind going at
30km/h.
 3. Compare your experimental results with the controlled conditions and give a short
conclusion using what you learned in previous clases about transpiration. Validate if the
hypothesis you wrote was correct or not and why.

Transpiration is the process by which water vapor leaves the plant through the stomata of the
leaf, allowing for new and more water to be absorbed from the soil through the roots. The
transpiration rate of a plant, or in this case only a leaf, depends on a variety of factors, amongst
which, abiotic factors play an important role in adaptations of the process. Some environmental
conditions like high temperatures and fast-strong wind may lead to the transpiration rate to
increase, as well as, for example, humidity may lead to a decrease in the transpiration rate.

While analizing the results of the experiment, it can be seen that the transpiration rate in the leaf
under controlled conditions is consistent within a rage, but doesn’t show any tendency towards
an increase or decrease of water loss throughout time. On the other hand, the leaf left under
different increasing temperatures, shows a clear tendency towards an increased transpiration rate
as the temperature is higher; proving the hypothesis right, since the heat causes for the leaf to
evaporate more water and faster. Likewise, the leaf that’s facing the fan to simulate different
wind speeds, shows a proportional increase between faster movement of air, and a higher
transpiration rate, again proving the hypothesis right since the wind removes water vapor,
causing an increase in the rate of diffusion of water vapor from the leaf (more water loss - higher
transpiration rate).