Photosynthesis: Photosystem ll

Question

How does changing the wavelength of light affect Photosystem II's ability to generate ATP and NADPH with the idea of the hypothesis being that changing the wavelength of light will affect the rate of electron transfer in Photosystem II. Specifically, shorter wavelengths will lead to a faster electron transfer rate, while longer wavelengths will result in a slower rate.

Answer 1

Different wavelengths affect the rate of electron transfer because waves of different wavelengths produce different amounts of energy. The amount of energy affects the rate of electron transfer. Higher energy = Increased rate and vice versa.

I have to get into physics a little to explain this.

Basically, light is a wave. The wavelength affects frequency and frequency determines the amount of energy in a wave. Longer wavelength = Lower frequency = Lower energy while Shorter wavelength = Higher frequency = Higher Energy. Wavelength is inversely proportional to Frequency and Energy while Frequency is directly proportional to Energy and inversely proportional to Wavelength.

To summarize,

Wavelength effects Frequency which determines the amount of Energy that affects the Rate of Electron Transfer.

Longer wavelength = Lower frequency = Lower energy = Slower rate

Shorter wavelength = Higher frequency = Higher Energy = Faster rate

For more info about light & waves search for E = hv or Plank's constant.