The Effects of High Frequency Light and Low Frequency Light on Algal Growth.

Abstract

Algae, like other plants, uses light energy and converts it into consumable organic compounds by a process called photosynthesis. The amount of light and the intensity of light has an effect on how well the plant goes through this process. The light spectrum starts at a low wavelength (high energy and frequency) and ends at a higher wavelength (lower energy and frequency). In this experiment, we are testing the idea that algae left under blue light will have a higher growth amount than algae left under red light because blue light gives more energy to be used to grow, thus increasing the rate of photosynthesis. We tested this by taking three samples of water from Lake Hefner and pairing each falcon tube containing our samples with their own 24-hour light chamber. One in blue light, one in fluorescent light, and one in red light. Using the spectrometer, we observed the amount of chlorophyll in each tube each week calculated the algal growth each week. Our hypothesis was not supported. Our results showed a continuous decrease in algal growth in the falcon tubes kept under blue light.