| Explore | We know that there ar emany different kinds of plant and some are bog, some are small and some are edible and some are not edible. We know that they need light and water to photosynthesize and without photosynthesis, they would die. How does salinity affect the rate of photosynthesis. |
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| Research Question | We want to see if salt or sugar affect the growth of a plant. We brainstormed this idea and it interests us because we know that salinity affects the environment but we want to know how and if sugar could too. |
| Predictions | We hypothesized that the sugar solution will cause the spinach leaves to float faster because the plant won't have to make as much sugar through photosynthesis since it is already in the solution. |
| Experimental Design | Our plan is to have three cups. One with 4 grams of salt per liter of water and the other with 4 grams of sugar per liter of water and the final one with distilled water. Each cup will have 50 milliliters of the solution. Stir each solution for 30 seconds. Add a few drops of soap so the leaves do not stick. Hole punch 30 discs from 4-5 healthy green spinach leaves. Place ten leave disks in an open syringe, tap the syringe on the table or use the paint brush to push the disks towards the tip of the syringe. Carefully insert the plunger and press almost all the air out of the syringe, do not crush or damage the leaf disks. Draw 2-3 ml of the distilled water from the control cup into the syringe holding the syringe upright, push up all of the air. Then cover the tip of the syringe with the tip of your finger or thumb. Slowly push back the plunger to create a vaccum. You should see air bubbles being forced out of the disks. Release the plunger and push it back to force the water into the spaces with your finger still covering the tip. Repeat until leaf disks sink. When they have sunk empty them into the control cup. Repeat those steps with the other two solutions. Stir each solution once. |
| Conclusion | |
| Investigation Theme | POS |
| Grade Level | High School Students (Grades 9,10,11,12) |
| School Name | Mountain View High School |
| Session | Fall 2017 |