Free Botany Simulation

Explore the Photosynthesis Simulator: Inside the

Zoom inside a chloroplast and control light, CO₂, temperature and water to see the light-dependent and light-independent reactions speed up.

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Free to use
No signup
Nothing to install
Runs in your browser

Free to use

No signup

Photosynthesis Simulator: Inside the

Setting

Open the Photosynthesis Simulator: Inside the

Illustration. Open the tool for the real thing.

See it in action

The Photosynthesis Simulator: Inside the with sample data entered and the result showing.

Screenshot of the Photosynthesis Simulator: Inside the with sample data entered: The Photosynthesis Simulator: Inside the with sample data entered and the result showing. — Sample data entered into the Photosynthesis Simulator: Inside the. Open the tool to try your own.

Explained

What is the Photosynthesis Simulator: Inside the?

Zoom inside a chloroplast and control light, CO₂, temperature and water to see the light-dependent and light-independent reactions speed up, slow down or stall. It runs in your browser, so a change to a setting or a drag on an object shows up at once.

Greenhouse growers pump in extra CO₂ and control temperature for exactly this reason: to keep every factor from becoming the bottleneck and maximise crop photosynthesis.

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Key idea 1Key idea 2Key idea 3

3 steps to your result

Open the tool and follow along. Nothing to install.

In the Photosynthesis Simulator: Inside the Chloroplast, use the controls to change Light intensity, CO₂ concentration, Leaf temperature, Water availability. The simulation reacts instantly.

Start with this experiment: Try Full sun, then Deep shade, and read the limiting stage readout each time. Drag any glowing handle, object or slider with your mouse or finger and the Photosynthesis Simulator: Inside the Chloroplast responds in real time.

Change one setting at a time and watch which readout moves, then compare it with this idea: The rate of photosynthesis rises with light intensity then saturates once the light-dependent reactions run as fast as they can.

What you get

Key idea 1

The rate of photosynthesis rises with light intensity then saturates once the light-dependent reactions run as fast as they can.

Key idea 2

Enzymes in the Calvin cycle have an optimum temperature; going too far past it sharply cuts the rate.

Key idea 3

Low water makes stomata close, starving the Calvin cycle of CO₂ even if light is plentiful.

Experiment 1

Try Full sun, then Deep shade, and read the limiting stage readout each time.

Experiment 2

Use the drought preset and watch the stomata close in the zoomed view.

Experiment 3

Drag temperature past the optimum and watch the rate curve fall sharply.

Used for

Pick one to see how it fits.

Use case

Botany learners

Students, teachers and curious learners of all ages.

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How it compares

A plain look at this tool next to the usual alternative.

	This simulation	Textbook diagram
Interactive	Drag, tap and change settings	Fixed picture
Install	Nothing to install	Not needed
Cost	Free to use	Depends on the book

Questions people ask

Why does raising light intensity eventually stop increasing the rate?

Past a point the light-dependent reactions are running as fast as the leaf's machinery allows, so CO₂ fixation in the Calvin cycle becomes the new bottleneck.

Why does drought reduce photosynthesis even in bright light?

Drought closes the stomata to save water, which also blocks CO₂ from entering the leaf, starving the Calvin cycle.

Is the Photosynthesis Simulator: Inside the Chloroplast free to use?

Yes. The Photosynthesis Simulator: Inside the Chloroplast is free, needs no signup or download and runs in your web browser. It is part of the Botany group of AZRS simulations.

Does the Photosynthesis Simulator: Inside the Chloroplast work on a phone or tablet?

Yes. The Photosynthesis Simulator: Inside the Chloroplast takes touch input as well as mouse input, so you can use its 4 adjustable settings with a finger. A larger screen makes the controls and graphs easier to read.

How do I use the Photosynthesis Simulator: Inside the?

1. In the Photosynthesis Simulator: Inside the Chloroplast, use the controls to change Light intensity, CO₂ concentration, Leaf temperature, Water availability. The simulation reacts instantly. 2. In the Photosynthesis Simulator: Inside the Chloroplast, press "Full sun", "Deep shade", "Drought (stomata closed)" to start, reset or change what is happening. 3. Start with this experiment: Try Full sun, then Deep shade, and read the limiting stage readout each time. Drag any glowing handle, object or slider with your mouse or finger and the Photosynthesis Simulator: Inside the Chloroplast responds in real time. 4. Change one setting at a time and watch which readout moves, then compare it with this idea: The rate of photosynthesis rises with light intensity then saturates once the light-dependent reactions run as fast as they can.