Computer Transpiration Lab

Data Table

1.      Transpiration is like sweating for plants. Leaf and stem surfaces are dotted with stomata (small openings like pores) that are more numerous on the underside of the leaf. The function of transpiration is to cool the plant and allow the flow of minerals and nutrients from the root to shoot.

2.      A few controls are the heat, wind, and light tools, like the fan, heater, and the lamp. Another control is the time the plant is exposed to heating or cooling (1 hour).

3.      The change in environmental temperature by the heater or introducing wind with the fan or adding additional light with the lamp will increase the rate of transpiration. We found that for most plants had the highest rate of transpiration when we used the fan. All the plants rates of transpiration increased but not with the same proportion.

4.      The wind introduced by the fan increased the rate of transpiration for the most of the plants because the wind blows away water vapor from the plant resulting in a higher rate for transpiration.

5.      The Coleus had the highest rate of transpiration because it has a lot of large leaves which enable it to transpire more.  The rate of transpiration depends on the structure of the plant, like how large its leaves are.

6.      The rate of transpiration would decrease if you coated a plant with petroleum jelly because that would block the stomata and prevent the plant from evaporating water. It will eventually kill the plant.

7.      Transpiration is important for plants because it cools the plants and allows the flow of minerals and nutrients from the root to the shoot.