Key learning points

1. Effect of temperature on aerobic cellular respiration investigated in small living organisms (e.g. germinating peas).
2. The oxygen used by the respiring organisms in a set time can be measured using a simple respirometer.
3. Identifying independent and dependent variables, and variables to control to increase the validity of the results.
4. The height of coloured liquid in the capillary tube of the respirometer is measured at the start & end of the set time.
5. Collecting repeat measurements at each temperature, and collecting data at different temperatures.

Keywords

• Aerobic - A process that requires oxygen.

• Cellular respiration - An exothermic chemical process that transfers energy for life processes, using glucose as fuel.

• Respirometer - Apparatus used to measure the rate of respiration in small organisms.

• Independent variable - The factor that we change in an experiment.

• Dependent variable - The factor that we measure in an experiment.

Common misconception