Blog 11

What was your working hypothesis, and what was your prediction?

My groups working hypothesis was that the plants that we watered with light rain pressure would grow taller and faster than the plants that were being watered with heavy rain pressure. Our prediction was that the plants that received heavy rain pressure would either not grow at all, or at least be much shorter than the plants watered with light rain pressure. As it came to turn out, the plants with the heavy rain pressure did grow quite tall, and grew flowers, but they were slightly more crushed down than the plants that were watered lightly. The plants that were watered with light rain pressure grew very slightly taller than the plants that were watered with heavy rain pressure, and their height varied more than the others. 

Graph - Blog 10

Figure 1: This graph shows how rain pressure, either heavy or light, effects the growth in height of the fast plants. The data indicates that the plants that were watered through light water pressure grew taller (5cm), than plants that were watered with heavy rain (4cm). Because the results differ, there are two different groups,  

Experimental Hypothesis and Predictions

My group has hypothesized that the plant that is "rained" on at a slower rate will grow better because steady and gradual is a better condition than fast and abrupt. I, myself, am predicting that the plant that is "rained" on at a slower rate will grow faster than the other. In nature, a slower, plentiful rain always has a far better effect on plants, etc. whereas a sudden rain could lead to washing out plants and animals, causing danger in the ecosystem. I am a little worried that by doing such a sudden rainfall that some plants in that group may not grow, but I think that as long as my group is careful about how much water we add each day (150 mL per plant) that everything should go smoothly. I am not as worried about the condition of the plants that will be "rained" on lightly because the rain will not be so rough as to destroy them when they are just seedlings. I cannot wait to begin this experiment because I am anxious to find what is going to happen, and if my hypothesis in the first sentence is right.

What Will You Measure?

My group will be measuring the effect that a light rain versus a heavy rain has on a plant. Essentially to measure our plants progress, we will be looking at the height of the plants as well as the plants are growing. We will be looking at how fast the opposing plants will be growing, how big they grow, how healthy they look (full vs thin, etc.), etc. Regarding plant measurements, my group will be testing with a total of 12 pots. We are starting off with each pot having 3 seeds in it, so that there is a high chance that we will end up with 12 plants rather than anything lower.

Watering Schedule:

Everyday at 11:25:

Mon - Caroline

Tues - Shivani

Wed - Kennedy

Thurs - Sophie

Fri - Sophie

Sat - Shivani

Sun - Caroline