Light For Life

• databot

• IOS/Android Smart Device

Investigations

Life Science

Overview

Background

What You Will Need/Prep

• Test your databot™ connection.

• You will be prompted to select
  and connect to databot™ each
  time you launch an experiment.

• If there are two or more databot's
  listed, the one closest to your
  device will be highlighted in blue.

Light for life

This lab explores the role of light in plant growth.
You will measure light intensity, study the effects of
different light spectra, and test how different
transparent materials affect light transmission.
Using databot™, you will collect and analyze data to
design the most efficient greenhouse environment
for plant growth.

• The source of light and a box

• A ruler and a protractor

• Сolored filters (red, green, blue)
  or RGB lamp.

• Transparent Materials for testing
  (glass, plastic, translucent fabric,
  etc.)

• Install Vizeey™ on your
  Smart device.

• Study the background
  information and terms and
  prepare to explore!

Grades: Middle School

Time: 45 Minutes

Subject: Life Science

Topics: Light, Light Intensity

Light is one of the most important factors in plant
growth. In a process called photosynthesis, plants
convert light energy into chemical energy, producing
the nutrients they need to survive. The intensity,
spectrum, and duration of light can affect how
efficiently plants grow.

Plants respond to different light conditions in unique
ways. For example, blue light stimulates vegetative
growth, while red light stimulates flowering and
fruiting. The angle of sunlight changes throughout
the day, affecting how much energy plants receive.
Similarly, transparent materials, such as greenhouse
coverings, affect how much and what type of light
reaches plants, influencing their growth.

Greenhouses are designed to optimize light
conditions for plants, balancing these factors to
create the ideal growing environment. By
experimenting with light angles, spectra, and
materials, you can uncover the science behind
greenhouse design and gain insight into sustainable
agriculture.

Databot™ provides an accurate and interactive way
to measure light intensity and study how these
factors affect plant health. In this lab, you will learn
the principles of light and its relationship to plant
growth through hands-on learning.

Learning Objectives

By completing this lab, students will:

• Understand how the angle of light affects its intensity.

• Explore the impact of different light spectra on plants.

• Evaluate the efficiency of transparent materials for greenhouse environments.

• Develop critical thinking and data analysis skills using databot™ sensors.

Light Spectrum: The range of wavelengths of light, including visible light, which plants use
for photosynthesis. Key wavelengths include red and blue light.

Light Intensity (Illuminance): The amount of light energy hitting a surface, measured in lux.
It directly affects the rate of photosynthesis.

Lux: A unit of light measurement where the area is taken into account.

Transparent Materials: Substances like glass or plastic that allow light to pass through and
can influence the quality and intensity of light reaching plants.

Blue Light: A wavelength that promotes vegetative growth and strong stems.

Red Light: A wavelength that enhances flowering and fruit production.

Green Light: A wavelength that penetrates deeper into plant canopies but is less efficiently
absorbed by chlorophyll.

Photosynthesis: The process by which plants use sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water to
produce energy (in the form of glucose) and release oxygen.

Life Science

Interesting Facts

Greenhouses and Light: Modern greenhouses are designed to optimize sunlight usage,
often equipped with automated systems that adjust shades and vents to control light levels.

Glass vs. Plastic: Glass allows more light to enter but is heavier and more expensive, while
modern plastics can be treated to block harmful UV rays while letting in beneficial light.

Plant Behavior: Some plants, like sunflowers, exhibit heliotropism—a behavior where they
track the sun's movement across the sky to maximize light absorption.

Light and Productivity: Studies show that optimizing light conditions in greenhouses can
increase crop yields by up to 30%, making efficient lighting crucial for sustainable
agriculture.

There are 2 tabs available for analyzing and capturing data in this experiment. You can see
them here and use any of them.

In order to work with the experiment you need to launch the Vizeey application and click on
+ in the upper right corner.

Then select “Add experiment from QR code” and scan the QR code prepared for this
experiment. Your experiment will appear in the list.

Using Vizeey

In the first and third parts of the lab, you will use the
light sensor. This sensor measures light intensity in
lux, helping you understand how different conditions
affect the amount of light reaching a surface. By
collecting accurate data, you can evaluate factors
like angle, material transparency, and light
efficiency. The illuminance sensor is essential for
determining optimal conditions for plant growth.

When you start the experiment you will be immediately
offered to connect to your databot. Make sure that
databot is enabled.

Part 1: Initial Observations and Discussion Questions

• Why do you think greenhouses use materials like glass or plastic instead of leaving
  plants exposed to the open air?

How do you think the angle of light will affect its intensity? Which angle will provide the
most light? ___________________________________________________________________________

Life Science

Write your hypothesis for each part of the experiment

Which color of light (red, green, or blue) do you think will be most beneficial for plants?
Why? _________________________________________________________________________________

Which material (glass, plastic, or fabric) do you think will allow the most light to pass
through? Why? _______________________________________________________________________

• Tap on "Light for life" in Vizeey to load the experiment.

• You will be prompted to connect to databot.

  • Hint- if there is more than one databot in use, the one closest to you will be in blue!

  • A solid blue light on databot means you are connected.

• Choose the tab “Light” and start your experiment using:

• Use these icons at the top of the screen in Vizeey to start and to pause
  the experiment.

• Measure at 0° Angle: Position the light source directly above databot™ (at a 0° angle)
  and turn it on. Wait 5 seconds for the sensor to stabilize, then record the light intensity
  in lux.

Part 3: Experiment Procedure

Life Science

• Setup your workspace: place databot™ on a flat surface, such as a table. Ensure the
  workspace is free from other light sources to prevent interference. databot™ should be
  installed with the sensors facing up.

• Position the light source: set up an adjustable light source (e.g., a lamp or flashlight)
  so that it can be moved to different angles relative to databot™. Use a protractor or
  angle guide to measure the angle accurately.

Write down your observations.__________________________________________________________

Determine how the angle of light affects its intensity.

Angle of Light

Keep the light source at a fixed
distance from databot™ throughout the
experiment. Use a ruler to confirm the
distance remains constant.

• Repeat the process for angles of 30°, 45°,
  60°, and 90°, carefully measuring and
  recording the light intensity at each
  position.

• Write the obtained data into the table.

• Tap on "Light for life" in Vizeey to load the experiment.

• You will be prompted to connect to databot.

  • Hint- if there is more than one databot in use, the one closest to you will be in blue!

  • A solid blue light on databot means you are connected.

• Choose the tab “Color” and start your experiment using:

• Use these icons at the top of the screen in Vizeey to start and to pause
  the experiment.

Part 5: Experiment Procedure

Life Science

Light Spectrum

Investigate how different light colors affect plants.

• Place databot in a box to create a dark area, the databot's sensors should be facing
  upwards.

• Make a hole in the top of the box to allow light to pass through.

• Prepare the light source: take a lamp or flashlight with interchangeable colored filters
  (red, green, blue).

• Attach the red filter to the light source and shine it directly into databot™. Wait 5
  seconds for the sensor to stabilize, then record the light intensity in lux.

• Turn on databot.

Side view

Color filter or RGB lamp

Top view

Keep the light source at a fixed distance from databot™ throughout the experiment. Use
a ruler to confirm the distance remains constant.

Life Science

• Replace the red filter with the green filter and repeat the measurement process,
  recording the intensity.

• Record the data in the table

• Record the data in the table

• Replace the green filter with the blue filter and repeat the measurement process,
  recording the intensity.

• Record the data in the table

• Remove all filters and run the experiment without filters.

• Record the data in the table

Write down your observations.__________________________________________________________

• Tap on "Light for life" in Vizeey to load the experiment.

• You will be prompted to connect to databot.

  • Hint- if there is more than one databot in use, the one closest to you will be in blue!

  • A solid blue light on databot means you are connected.

• Choose the tab “Light” and start your experiment using:

• Use these icons at the top of the screen in Vizeey to start and to pause
  the experiment.

Life Science

Transparent Materials

Evaluate how different materials transmit light and determine which is the most suitable for
greenhouse design.

• Place databot in a box to create a dark area, the databot sensors should be facing
  upwards.

• Make a hole in the top of the box to let the light to pass through.

• Place the light source on a tripod so that it shines on databot.

• Turn on the light source without any material between the light and databot™. Wait 5
  seconds and record the light intensity as the control value.

• Turn on databot.

• Record the data

Life Science

• Place a sheet of glass between
  the light source and databot™.
  Ensure it completely covers the
  light path. Wait 5 seconds and
  record the light intensity.

• Record the data

• Replace the glass with a sheet of
  clear plastic and repeat the
  measurement process.

• Record the data

• Replace the plastic with a piece of translucent
  fabric and repeat the measurement process.

• Record the data

Make a histogram from the obtained values ​​
that would show how the greenhouse
material can prevent light penetration.

Extension Idea: If time permits, experiment with combining materials or overlapping light
spectra to see how multiple factors interact. For example, test the light intensity when
using a red filter under a plastic sheet.

• The best angle for maximizing light intensity

• The most effective light spectrum for plants.

• The ideal material for building a greenhouse.

1. How could you apply what you learned to real-world scenarios (e.g., farming, indoor
   gardening)?

2. What surprised you the most during the experiments?

Life Science

After completing all three experiments, analyze the results to determine: