Question

Materials:

Procedures:
The procedures are listed in Practice Writing a Lab Report Activity. You do not need to include them here.

Data Analysis:
Part 1: Include the data provided in the lab scenario here. If you were conducting an experiment, you would record your data in a table.

Part 2: Using your data in Part 1, create a graph that represents the height of each plant over the ten days.

Insert chart [Hint: don’t forget to consider the relationship between your data and the type of graph to best represent your data. A line graph would be the best option to analyze this data. Remember to give your graph a title.]

Conclusion:
Include the following as a summary paragraph in the conclusion of your lab report:
• Analysis of the data-
o Which fertilizer worked best? Explain.
o Which plant did not grow well? Explain.
• Rationale to support or reject John's hypothesis
• Description of how the investigation could be tested further

Questions:
1. Explain what makes a scientific experiment reliable. Be sure to include at least three reasons to support your answer.
2. During research, why is it important to use peer reviewed evidence when collecting background information during a scientific investigation?


Days No fertilizer (cm) Chemical Fertilizer (cm) Organic Fertilizer (cm)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Conclusion:
Conclusion questions need to be answered using complete sentences. Some questions may require a longer explanation in paragraph form.

Was John’s hypothesis correct or incorrect? Why or why not?
Based on the data in the table, which fertilizer worked the best? Explain your answer.
Which plant did not grow well? Explain your answer.
Questions:

Analysis questions need to be answered using complete sentences. Some questions may require a longer explanation in paragraph form.

How would you improve this experiment?
As a real-world application, how can this experiment be beneficial?



John had a science fair project that he needed to do. He wanted to test the effects that organic and chemical fertilizers had on plant growth. John predicted that the organic fertilizer would make the plants grow taller. He used three pots, three of the same type of seed, soil, organic fertilizer, chemical fertilizer, water, and a ruler. John put soil in the pots. He added chemical fertilizer to the first pot, organic fertilizer in the second pot, and no fertilizer in the third pot. He then planted one seed in each pot. John had to water the pots daily. He also checked for growth and took measurements for a period of 10 days. He measured the height of the plants.

Days No Fertilizer (cm) Chemical Fertilizer (cm) Organic Fertilizer (cm)
1 0 0 0
2 0 0 0
3 0 0 0
4 0 0 0
5 0 0.5 0
6 0 1.3 0
7 0 1.9 0.3
8 0 2.2 1.6
9 0 4.5 3.2
10 0.2 5.2 3.8
John made a data table to record his measurements.
After the 10th day, John observed that the plant with the chemical fertilizer grew the most.

Answer 1

Data Analysis:

Part 1:

| Days | No Fertilizer (cm) | Chemical Fertilizer (cm) | Organic Fertilizer (cm) |

|------|--------------------|--------------------------|-------------------------|

| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

| 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

| 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

| 5 | 0 | 0.5 | 0 |

| 6 | 0 | 1.3 | 0 |

| 7 | 0 | 1.9 | 0.3 |

| 8 | 0 | 2.2 | 1.6 |

| 9 | 0 | 4.5 | 3.2 |

| 10 | 0.2 | 5.2 | 3.8 |

Part 2: [Insert a line graph representing the height of each plant over the ten days. Title the graph "Plant Growth Over 10 Days."]

Conclusion:

The analysis of the data shows that the chemical fertilizer worked best, as the plant treated with chemical fertilizer grew to 5.2 cm in height, while the organic fertilizer plant grew to 3.8 cm. The plant with no fertilizer did not grow well, only reaching 0.2 cm in height over the ten days.

John's hypothesis that the organic fertilizer would make the plants grow taller was incorrect. The chemical fertilizer had a greater impact on plant growth than the organic fertilizer. To further test this investigation, John could use a wider variety of plants, different types or concentrations of fertilizers, or extend the duration of the experiment.

Questions:

1. A scientific experiment is reliable when it is:

- **Replicable**: The experiment can be reproduced by other researchers with the same results.

- **Controlled**: Variables are carefully controlled to reduce the impact of external factors on the experiment's outcome.

- **Valid**: The experiment measures what it is intended to measure, and the results accurately reflect the effect of the variables being tested.

2. Using peer-reviewed evidence during a scientific investigation is crucial because:

- It ensures the information is accurate and reliable, as it has been reviewed and approved by experts in the field.

- It helps maintain high standards of research and reduces the likelihood of using incorrect or misleading information.

- It promotes the sharing of knowledge among researchers and encourages collaboration, which can lead to more reliable and effective scientific investigations.

Conclusion Questions:

John's hypothesis was incorrect because the data showed that the chemical fertilizer made the plants grow taller than the organic fertilizer.

Based on the data in the table, the chemical fertilizer worked the best, as it led to the greatest increase in plant height (5.2 cm) after ten days.

The plant that did not grow well was the one with no fertilizer, as it only reached 0.2 cm in height after ten days.

Analysis Questions:

To improve this experiment, John could:

- Test different types or concentrations of fertilizers to see how they affect plant growth.

- Use a larger sample size of plants for each fertilizer type to account for any variability within each group.

- Extend the duration of the experiment to observe the long-term effects of the fertilizers on plant growth.

This experiment can be beneficial in real-world applications by helping farmers, gardeners, and agricultural companies determine which type of fertilizer is most effective for promoting plant growth. By understanding the impact of chemical and organic fertilizers on plant growth, they can make informed decisions about the best fertilization practices for their crops and gardens.