FlinnPREP™ Inquiry Labs for AP® Biology: Rate of Transpiration, 1-Year Access

Product Details

Big Idea 4, Investigation 11, Science Practices 1, 2, 4, 5, 6

Plants absorb nutrients, ions and water from surrounding soil and air by osmosis, diffusion and active transport. Transpiration is the main method for pulling water from the roots to the leaves. Study how transpiration is regulated by observing, counting and quantifying the stomata in plant leaves.

This Flinn Inquiry Lab Kit begins with a Baseline Activity that instructs students to determine the approximate leaf area and therefore the approximate number of stomata for each plant. This study of stomata and leaf area serves as a foundation for the Opportunities for Inquiry portion of the lab when students are guided to develop their own testable hypothesis and open-inquiry experiment.

Questions such as the following help to guide and inspire students as they plan, discuss, evaluate, execute and finally justify their experiment and results to their peers.

• How does the weather and environment affect transpiration?
• Are there ways to increase transpiration rate?
• How does the number of stomata per square meter of leaf area affect the transpiration rate?
• How does coating the leaves or otherwise compromising the plant affect transpiration rate?

Includes detailed teacher notes, reproducible student handouts and enough materials for eight groups of students to complete the Baseline Activity and to prepare for the inquiry activity. A 0.001-g precision balance and greenhouse with grow lights are required and available separately. A refill kit for the Rate of Transpiration Inquiry Lab Kit is also available (FB2089).