Transpiration Lab

AP Biology
Mrs. Ravesi-Weinstein

Transpiration is the process by which plants lose water to the environment from their stomata. It is a
major contributor to the cohesion-tension mechanism that allows water to flow through the phloem cells
of a plant on its way from the root hairs to the leaves. The following variables can affect the rate of
transpiration in plants:

● Humidity
● Wind
● Sunlight

In this lab, the rate of transpiration will be measured as the percent change in mass of the plants over time
(%∆mass/time). As a plant loses water, it loses mass too.

The following procedure will be used to accomplish this:

1. Remove any and all flowers from the spider plants.
2. Once removed from the trays, wrap the roots and soil of the plants in plastic wrap and tie to the
stem.
3. Record the mass of the plants individually.
4. Set-up your plants with selected variables and continue to record masses over the next week.

The lab assignment is as follows:

Test the effects of environmental conditions on the rate of transpiration in plants. An approved
experimental design must be created using the scientific method. Background information about
transpiration, its functioning in spider plants, and the plants themselves must be included in the lab report
in addition to: a testable hypothesis, experimental design/methodology, data tables, data
analysis/calculations/graphs, and a conclusion that does or does not reject the tested hypothesis (with
scientific rationale/justification), discusses experimental difficulties and possible explanations, poses new
questions, applies the results to real world situations, suggests possible experimental design
improvements, and finally connects the lab to one of the “Big Ideas” (with justification). The lab grade
will be based on the final PowerPoint presentation of your lab. DO NOT FORGET TO RUN A
CONTROL!