Planting Science - Projects: Sorghum
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Sorghum

Project by group lohscarlsonspring

Explore PHOTOSYNTHESIS: 6CO2 + 6H2O -> C6H12O6 + 6O2 the definition of photosynthesis is solar energy being converted to chemical energy. It occurs when light is taken in to a plant and turned into glucose, expelling oxygen and taking in carbon dioxide and water as the stomata open up. It creates energy for the plant and oxygen for animals to breath. Takes in carbon dioxide and water. Photosynthesis happens to give organisms the oxygen they need to survive (Bailey). Independent Variable: Independent variable is spinach being stored with light and without light. We picked this variable because of our curiosity if fridges are storing fresh vegetables in the optimal conditions for keeping food fresher longer. So we are testing which light conditions will create the longest lasting produce. (Fountain). Floating leaf Disk: We did a lab in class to measure the rate of photosynthesis by taking all the oxygen out of disks of spinach. We put the disks in an airtight syringe to expel all the oxygen from the spinach disks. we also but baking soda in one of the cups of water to add carbon dioxide to the disks. The spinach disks float when they photosynthesis because the process of photosynthesis creates oxygen, and oxygen causes the spinach to float. So we measure the rate of photosynthesis by the amount of spinach disks floating (planting science).
Research Question How does the presence or absence of light affect the rate of photosynthesis of spinach leaves in a refrigerator? Is the way grocery stores produce the best way of making food last. Would a light being on at all times affect how long spinach stays alive and unspoiled compared to being put in one that only has light when opened?
Predictions PREDICTIONS: The spinach leaves in the dark will go bad quicker in comparison to the spinach leaves in the light because they will not be photosynthesizing, while the leaves in the light will continue to photosynthesize, allowing them to live longer. HYPOTHESIS: If the spinach is stored inside a box inside a refrigerator with continuous light, the spinach will live longer than spinach in a dark box inside a refrigerator because it will not be able to photosynthesize, where the spinach in the light box will. NULL HYPOTHESIS: There is no difference between the dark and light experiment groups of spinach in correspondence to the rate of photosynthesis.
Experimental Design MATERIALS: Baby Spinach, Fridge, Light Box, Baking soda, Large disposable syringes, Single-hole paper puncher, 9 clear wide-mouth plastic cups, Distilled water, Stop watch, Thermometer, Ruler PROCEDURE: 1. Fill nine cups with 2cm of distilled water. 2. Add a pinch of baking soda to all the cups and stir until dissolved. 3. Cut out one-hundred and eight disks from spinach leafs. 4. Deoxygenize all the leaf disks. 5. Put twelve disks in each cup. 6. Put three cups in a box inside a fridge at 31.7 degrees, making sure to not allow any light inside the box. 7. Put three cups under a constant light inside the same fridge. 8. Put three control cups outside of the fridge. 9. Check to see if leaf disks are floating in the cups every five minutes for thirty minutes. (PlantingScience pg1-9)
Conclusion Our experiment showed that the leaves that were not exposed to light did not photosynthesize at all, while the leaves that were exposed to light did photosynthesize. The absence of light did not provide the necessary energy to carry out the photosynthesis process. Based on our data, the light leaves showed around 1/2 floating rate, while the dark leaves had no floaters.
Investigation Theme POS
Grade Level High School Students (Grades 9,10,11,12)
School Name Lake Orion High School
Session Spring 2017

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NSF_Logo.jpg This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant #2010556 and #1502892. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

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