How Do Plants How Do Plants Factor In?Factor In?

The Sun’s Energy• Some of the sun’s energy is

blocked by the ozone layer, (UV radiation) some is absorbed by our atmosphere, (Infrared radiation) and some is reflected by our clouds or the ground.

Where do plants come in?

• Green plants have molecules called Chlorophyll.

• Chlorophyll absorb parts of the “Visible” Spectra of Light.

• Chlorophyll best absorbs Orange, Red, Blue and Ultraviolet.

Basic Chemistry• If an atom has no number after it, there

is only 1.

• H O C Ar

• 1 H 1 O 1C 1Ar

• If a Molecule has a small number after it, that is how many there are.

• C6 H12 O6

• 6 Carbon 12 Hydrogen 6 Oxygen

•If a Molecule has a big number in the front, you multiply everything inside by that number.

•2C6 4H2 5H2O4

• 12 Carbon 8 Hydrogen 20 Oxygen10 Hydrogen

Photosynthesis•Plants take CO2

and Water and make Sugar and Oxygen.

Let’s Balance The Equation

Carbon

Oxygen

Hydrogen

Carbon

Oxygen

Hydrogen=

6

18

12

6

18

12

CO2 Levels On Earth

•Because plants are more active in the summer, CO2 levels drop in the summer and rise in the winter.

The Greenhouse Effect• Many scientists believe that the

pollution we make (like CO2) is causing our planet to warm.

• The hottest planet is Venus. It has an atmosphere rich in greenhouse gasses like CO2.

• These gasses trap heat and raise the temp. of the planet.

Proof Of Rising CO2

•We can tell that CO2 levels have risen steadily for 400 years by taking samples from ancient glaciers and ice fields.

Red

OrangeBlue

UV