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About the Experiment

Experiment Title: In what temperature will a seed in water sprout and grow? (Workshop 6)

Conditions:

1. Room temperature (control)
2. Warm environment (heating pad)
3. Cool environment (refrigerator)
4. Cold environment (freezer)

Experimental Predictions:

Predictions from: Office Assistant

I think the seeds at room temperature will sprout. I also think the seeds that are warmed by the heating pad will sprout. In fact, I think the warm seeds might sprout faster than the seeds at room temperature because plants like to grown in warm places and during warm seasons. The seeds in the refrigerator might start growing, but will probably grow slowly because it seems that the cold temperature will slow down the sprouting process. I do not think the seeds in the freezer will grown. I think they will just freeze.

 

Experiment Methods and Procedure:

In all the following conditions, we used lima bean seeds:

• 3 pre-soaked seeds in plastic bag with moistened paper towel, placed in thick envelope (darkness), left at room temperature
• 3 pre-soaked seeds in plastic bag with moistened paper towel, placed in thick envelope (darkness), placed on heating pad set to low
• 3 pre-soaked seeds in plastic bag with moistened paper towel, placed in dark refrigerator
• 3 pre-soaked seeds in plastic bag with moistened paper towel, placed in dark freezer

The beans were measured and photographed on days 1,3,7,10, and 14 of the experiment.

Results and Conclusions:

We were surprised to find out that only seeds + water at room temperature sprouted and grew! We reject part of our hypothesis because we thought that seeds placed on a heating pad as well as those in the refrigerator would also sprout and grow, even though they might do so at different rates. Too much heat seems to increase the likelihood that seeds in water will rot rapidly. We’re also becoming more convinced that light is important--even if it’s not required--because even the seeds that sprouted at room temperature did not thrive and we think it’s because they were kept in the dark.

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