Question

Through the process of photosynthesis, plants remove carbon dioxide from the air, while producing oxygen and sugar. In space, plants canl serve two main functions: oxygen production and food supply. A plant’s ability to supply the oxygen needs for a person depends largely on the species of plant and the intensity and quality of light it receives. Plant systems can also be used to help purify wastewater. Water evaporates from the leaves and resultant humidity can be condensed as a source of clean water. At very high light intensities, wheat could supply much of one human’s food and all their oxygen needs from an area as small as 15 square meters. At moderate light intensities, a mix of crops could supply a more complete diet for one person from about 50 square meters.
Your task is to design a plant growth chamber to be placed on the moon. You brainstorm with your team and come up with the following concerns"
I. The moon has no atmosphere
II. The moon's surface temperature ranges from -193C to 111C, depending on location and time of day.
III. Day length = about 27 Earth days
IV. Acceleration due to gravity = 1.6m/sec/sec (1/6 of Earth's)
V. No visible water
Consider items I - V. Which item(s) pose the biggest issue(s) with the task at hand: plants undergoing photosynthesis?
A) I.
B) I. and V.
C) I., III., and V
D) All five choices

Answer 1

The biggest issue would probably be number I. The other concerns (II, III, IV, V) would probably be easy to solve with the some specific chamber characteristics.
The fact that the moon has no atmosphere it means that it doesn't retain neither $CO_{2}$ nor $O_{2}$. Even with the appropriate chamber characteristics to retain such gases, how would the crop in the first place have so much free $CO_{2}$ to use.
Temperature could be managed inside the chamber as well as accelaration. The period of day light would be long and intense. As for the water, once plants evaporate water when they breath at night (instead of doing photosynthesis), that water could be all collected and condensed by the chamber to be used again during the day light period.

Answer 2

Answer:

The correct answer would be B) I. and V.

Photosynthesis is the process by which autotrophs or green plants synthesize their food from carbon dioxide and water in the presence of chlorophyll and sunlight.

The oxygen is released as the byproduct of the process.

The overall equation can be written as:

6CO₂ + 6H₂O → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂

Thus, carbon dioxide and water are the essential substrates for this process.

Hence, the absence of atmosphere and water would be the biggest issues with the given task.