limiting factors
What limiting factors means in Biology GCSE, as defined for AQA, OCR.
Definitions of limiting factors
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Reference: OCR
The principle that the rate of a process is determined by the factor in shortest supply, such as light intensity, CO₂ concentration and temperature for photosynthesis.
On the steep rising part of the graph the factor on the x-axis is limiting the reaction, while on the plateau a different factor has become limiting.
Factors that govern the rate of photosynthesis, so that increasing light intensity raises the rate until another factor limits.
The factor in shortest supply limits the rate of photosynthesis at any given time.
Topics that use limiting factors
- Rate of photosynthesis (AQA GCSE)
- Photosynthesis (OCR GCSE)
Related terms
- graph interpretation
- inverse square law
- light intensity
- limiting factor
- axis scaling
- Biomass
- bubble counting
- Bunsen burner
Using limiting factors in the exam
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