The simulation is located here: Light and Plant Growth

In this virtual lab you will perform an experiment to investigate what colors of the light spectrum
cause the most plant growth. You will calculate the plant growth by measuring the height of
each plant under the different colors of light. You will compare these measurements and
interpret a graph to determine which colors of the spectrum cause the most plant growth.
Prediction:
The different colors of light you will be using in the simulation are red, orange, green, blue, and
violet. Make a prediction: which color of light do you think will cause the plants to grow the
highest? Explain your prediction.
Prediction: Blue, because it caused chlorophyll A and B to absorbe more.

Procedure:
As you can see, there are two chambers in the simulation, with 3 planters in each and a
lightbulb above them. Underneath the chambers is a selector with the different colors of light.
Between the selectors is the light switch. When you select a color of light using the color
selectors and then flip the switch, the light bulbs above the planters will shine with that color
light. Next you can choose one of three different plants to use: spinach, radish, or lettuce. When
you click on a plant, all of the planters will be filled with that plant.
When you choose a plant, choose a light color, and flip the switch, the simulation will
automatically fast-forward 30 days (the calendar at the bottom right) to show plant growth under
those light conditions. Under the chambers in the middle, there is a ruler. You can drag the ruler
upward into the chamber. The ruler will stand upright, and you can drag it left and right to
measure height. The reset button on the bottom resets the simulation so you can test other
conditions.
Have one lab partner open a new Google Sheets. On the bottom left corner of the web page is a
button for a data sheet. Recreate this data sheet in Google sheets. One partner is going to work
on the Google sheet while the other works on the simulation.
For the simulation, you must measure plant growth under different conditions of light.
1. Grow spinach under red light.
2. Use the ruler to measure the height of the middle spinach plant.
3. Record your measurement in the data table.
4. Repeat these steps for spinach plants under orange, green, blue, and violet lights. Make
sure to take measurements to each trial.
5. Repeat the above steps for radish and lettuce plants as well
Post Lab Question:
According to your data, which color (or colors) of light are best for plant growth? Which colors of
light are worst for plant growth? Why? State a claim, present your evidence from the simulation,
and provide reasoning connecting your claim and evidence.

CLAIM Red and Blue are the best lights for plant growth, and green light is the worst for plant
growth.

EVIDENCE In a lab simulation, we grew spinach, lettuce, and radishes under six different colors
of light. We took data for six plants of each type. We found that plants grown under red and blue
light grew the most, while plants grown under green light hardly grew at all.

REASONING After observing two different types of chlorophyll activity under different
wavelengths of light, scientists found that red and blue had the most absorption. It was also
found that green had the least absorption. In this simulation, the plants we grew proved this.
The plants under red and blue light grew the most, because chlorophyll absorbs the most of red
and blue wavelengths. However, since chlorophyll reflects green light, plants grown under a
green light will not have as much growth.