What wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum r used by plants during photosynthesis ?

Answer 1

Whew -- gotta love the science questions! From TIEM: THE INSTITUTE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL MODELING:

"The different pigment molecules of plants absorb different wavelengths of light and consequently absorb different energies. Additionally, during photosynthesis, certain processes require higher energy than others. For example, photosystem II requires photons with slightly higher energies than photosystem I. As a result, chlorophyll molecules in photosystem II absorb light maximally at 680 nm while molecules in photosystem I can absorb light up to 700 nm."

So, the wavelength varies dependent on the plant & the process -- so I gather from this anyway. See the link for the whole article.

Answer 2

As far as I know, all colors in the visible spectrum except green are suitable energy sources for plants. I think they like red light the best, but blue light has a very high energy content also. Here's an interesting experiment; try growing a plant in a green bottle, like that used for some types of soda pop. The plant cannot use the green light for photosynthesis because the chlorophyll reflects it, and as a result the plant starves to death no matter how much light you give it. You could actually try an experiment by trying to grow plants under various wavelengths of light, and see which ones survive and which ones don't make it.

Answer 3

The blue and red wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum...which is why the plant appears green as this is reflected

Answer 4

Main ones in photosystem 2 is wavelength 680nm, in photosystem 1 is wavelength 700 nm; that being said, other accessory pigments absorb light from wavelengths 400-960nm.

Answer 5

The link below takes you to a graph plotting the absorbance of chlorophyll at different wavelenghts in the visable spectrum.

Worth noting is that light with a wavelenght around 550nm (green light) is poorly absorbed. This explains why the majority of planst are green: all the colours of the visable spectrum except green are absorbed by chlorophyll. Green light is reflected into your eyes-making them look green.