200 33 PM Practice Identifying Parts of the Scientific Method
Directions: The following are experimental scenarios Read the experiments and then wenty
the components of the scientific method by completing the graphic organice provided
Experimental Scenario #1
A student investigated whether ante dig more tunnels in the light or in the dark she thought that
ants used the red light that penetrated to upper layers of earth and would dig more lunnels
during the daytime. Tenant colonies were set up in commercial ant forms with the same number
and type of ants per ant farm. The same amount of food was given to each colony, and the
colonies were in the same temperature. Five of the colonies were exposed to normal room light
and five were covered with black construction paper so they did not receive light. Every other day
for three weeks the length of the tunnels was measured in millimeter using a string and a rier
Averages for the light and dark groups for each measured were then computed. The averages are
isted in the following chart
Length of Tunnels (mm) Constructed by Ants in Different Light Conditions
Day
3
5
7
9
11
13
15
17
19
21
Light
5
10
20
26
32
50
61
66
90
95
103
Dark
7
15
25
32
47
62
93
110
115
120
136
Experimental Scenario #2
A student investigated the effect of radiation on the germination of bean seeds. He
thought that exposure to radiation would limit the seeds ability to germinate (grow much like ultra
Violeilight causing skin cancer. Three hundred soods were soaked in distilled water for one hour,
They were then divided into three groups. One group was placed in a microwave oven on high for
three seconds. Another group was microwaved on high for six seconds. The last group was not
microwaved. The seeds were then planted in three separate fats and given the same amount of
water. The seeds were then planted in three separate fats and given the same amount of water,
The flats were placed in a location with a constant temperature of approximately 27 degrees
Celsius. Each day for two weeks the number of seeds that germinated each group was recorded.
Total Number of Bean Seeds Germinated after Microwave Radiation
Three Seconds of Radiation
Six Seconds of Radiation
26
No Radiation
88
Experimental Scenario #3
A student investigated the effect of aged grass compost (fertilizer made from decaying plant material
)
on the growth of bean plants. She thought that the compost would provide extra nutrients and make
plants grow faster. Thirty bean seeds were divided into three groups and planted in different Mats
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