Norman Conquest

What did your data tell you? (**Conclusion must be written in complete sentences.)

The lab expressed the idea that a leaf applied with nail polish has a slower photosynthetic rate than that of a leaf that has its surface free of debris. Therefore, the lab purpose was satisfied as it was found out that nail polish does in fact have an effect on photosynthesis. The hypothesis was supported as the nail polish did increase the time in which it took two disks to float, meaning the photosynthetic rate was slowed. The data ended up revealing that a leaf covered with nail polish significantly slows down the process of photosynthesis, as both control values were quite less than the experimental. However, due to an inability to measure the exact amount of nail polish added to the leaf's surface, and error in data may have occurred, as one leaf may have gotten more or less than another. Also, to further improve upon this experiment, there needs to be a way to coat the leaves after having the oxygen removed from them, as the solution that they are inoculated with most likely dissolve the nail polish coating. Also, the soap in the solution, the substance that allows for the carbon to penetrate the membranes of the disk, most likely had the same effect on the nail polish, allowing for gases to be easily exchanged. As a real world application, this experiment could be used in the case where plants are photosynthesizing too much and need to be slowed down by the application of nail polish to their leaf surfaces.

Problem: What is the effect of a leaf's surface with nail polish on photosynthetic rate?

Title: The Effect of a Leaf's Surface with Nail Polish on the Photosynthetic Rate.

Hypothesis: If the leaf's surface with nail polish is related to the rate of photosynthesis, then the photosynthetic rate will decrease with the presence of nail polish.