Lab 2_The Scientific Method and Plant Growth-1

Lab #2: The Scientific Method and Plant Growth 100 Points DIRECTIONS – Read the scenario below then use the information to fill out the steps of the scientific method. Use the directions for Submitting an Assignment in Canvas from your syllabus. (100 Points) Scenario: I heard that applying Miracle Grow to tomato plants would help them grow taller. Taller plants could mean more tomatoes. So, I went to Home Depot and purchased 12 tomato plants. I planted all of them in pots and labeled 6 of them control and 6 of them treatment (see below C1 means control plant 1; T1 means treatment plant 1). I watered the control seeds with water only and the treatment seeds with Miracle Grow according to the products directions. I measured the height of each plant in centimeters each week for 7 weeks. After 7 weeks I transplanted them to my garden. Here are the results (transfer these results to Table 1): Week 1: C1 – 35 cm; C2 – 34.8 cm; C3 – 34.2 cm; C4 – 36 cm; C5 – 35.3 cm; C6 – 34.7 cm Week 1: T1 – 34.7 cm; T2 – 32.8 cm; T3 – 36.2 cm; T4 – 35 cm; T5 – 35.5cm; T6 – 35.7 cm Week 2: C1 – 35.2 cm; C2 – 35 cm; C3 – 34.7; C4 – 36.1 cm; C5 – 35.5 cm; C6 – 34.8 cm Week 2: T1 – 35 cm; T2 – 33.2 cm; T3 – 36.5 cm; T4 – 35.5 cm; T5 – 36 cm; T6 – 36 cm Week 3: C1 – 35.5 cm; C2 – 35.1 cm; C3 – 34.8 cm; C4 – 36.4 cm; C5 – 35.7 cm; C6 – 34.9 cm Week 3: T1 – 37 cm; T2 – 35 cm; T3 – 36.8 cm; T4 – 37 cm; T5 – 38 cm; T6 – 37.5 cm Week 4: C1 – 36 cm; C2 – 36.2 cm; C3 – 35 cm; C4 – 37 cm; C5 – 37 cm; C6 – 35 cm Week 4: T1- 45 cm; T2 – 46.3 cm; T3 – 50 cm; T4 – 45.8 cm; T5 – 52.1 cm; T6 – 48 cm Week 5: C1 – 45 cm; C2 – 48.8 cm; C3 – 40 cm; C4 – 40 cm; C5 – 42.6 cm; C6 – 37.9 cm Week 5: T1 – 62 cm; T2 – 72.3 cm; T3 – 59.4 cm; T4 – 64.1 cm; T5 – 63.2 cm; T6 – 71 cm Week 6: C1 – 52 cm; C2 – 59.6 cm; C3 – 49.1 cm; C4 – 48.7 cm; C5 – 51 cm; C6 – 42.3 cm Week 6: T1 – 73.5 cm; T2 – 81.2 cm; T3 – 72.5 cm; T4 – 80.6 cm; T5 – 83.4 cm; T6 – 92 cm Week 7: C1 – 62 cm; C2 – 72.3 cm; C3 – 55.1 cm; C4 – 60 cm; C5 – 62.2 cm; C6 – 52 cm Week 7: T1 – 86.3 cm; T2 – 103.2 cm; T3 – 95.4 cm; T4 – 110.4 cm; T5 – 120 cm; T6 97.7 cm Before Picture: Control – Water only Before Picture: Treatment – Miracle Grow C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6

YOUR PART: The scientific method is a series of steps that one goes through to test a hypothesis or prediction and then organizes and analyzes the data. You need to take the information from the scenario above and fill out the following information. 1. BACKGROUND : Research the Miracle Grow fertilizer for tomatoes and the record the claims about the effects it has on tomato plants. Make sure you cite your source. (10 Points) 2. HYPOTHESIS : Write a hypothesis or prediction on what you think will happen if Miracle Grow for tomatoes is added to the 6 tomato plants labeled Treatment. (5 Points) 3. MATERIALS: Look at the picture and read the story above to write a list of materials used. (5 Points) 4. METHODS : How was the experiment set up? List all of the steps in order. (10 Points) Control Treatment After 7 weeks

#1 #4 #2 #3 6. ANALYSIS : To see if there is a significant difference between the control and the treatment we need to do a T-test. Go to this website, https://www.graphpad.com/quickcalcs/ttest1.cfm then click on “Paired T - test” (#1), Rename the Labels (#2) as Control and Treatment, then enter the data from Table 2 into the data boxes for 7 weeks (#3), then click ‘ Calculate Now ” (#4). Once the test is done, use the data to answer the following questions. You need to attach the T-test results to this lab for credit for this part . (20 Points) Questions Answers 1. Did all of the plants start out about the same size? 2. Why is it important that the plant be as close to the same size at the beginning of the experiment? 3. What is the mean (average) for the treated plants? 4. What was the mean (average) for the control plants? 5. Did your treatment numerically (are the numbers close or not) enhance plant growth or seed germination? 6. What is the P-value of your T- test? 7. From your T-test results, did your treatment statistically enhance plant growth or seed germination?