Question

A class studying the growth of sunflower plants grown from ten different sunflower seeds gives each seed the same amount of sunlight and water. What function do sunlight and water serve in the experiment?

Answer 1

In a biology experiment with sunflower plants, controlled amounts of sunlight and water are used to ensure that any observed differences in growth are due to the intended variable under investigation, and not these growth conditions.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the class experiment where sunflower plants grown from ten different seeds received the same amount of sunlight and water, these factors served as controlled variables. Sunlight provides the energy needed for photosynthesis, the process by which plants create their food. Water is equally crucial as it is involved in photosynthesis, nutrient transport, and is a key component of plant cells, helping maintain structure and growth. The consistency of these elements ensures that the experiment tests only the variable under investigation, which might be the genetic variation between seeds or another factor like soil type or seed positioning, depending on the experiment's design.

When Gary insists on the plants having the same container size, he is likely trying to make sure that the container size does not impact plant growth, which would affect the validity of his results addressing the primary variable in question. Moreover, providing the same amount of water to all plants is an effort to control the experiment so that the variable being tested, which could be the influence of sunshine or perhaps another factor such as soil composition, is the only difference affecting the outcome of the experiment. If Gary's true variable was to test different soil temperatures due to container color or the effects of pests, he would need to control for those elements, too.

Answer 2

Sunlight and water are controlled variables in the sunflower growth experiment, serving as key inputs for photosynthesis and hydration, necessary for the plants' growth. These consistent conditions help in testing the hypothesis that these environmental factors influence plant growth.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the experiment where a class studies the growth of sunflower plants grown from ten different sunflower seeds, sunlight and water serve as essential factors for the plant's photosynthesis and hydration, which are crucial for their growth. By ensuring each seed receives the same amount of sunlight and water, these factors become controlled variables, allowing the experiment to focus on other variables that might influence growth. The aim is to determine if the sunflower plants will grow uniformly under these consistent conditions, which tests the hypothesis that environmental factors such as sunlight and water impact plant growth.

For example, Gary's experiment, which involved adjusting and controlling specific conditions like container size and water amount, was designed to isolate variables such as the amount of sunlight to understand their effect on plant growth. His hypothesis might be that the amount of sunlight (plant growth) affects the size of plants. Therefore, by controlling for factors like container size and water, Gary aims to conclude that any difference in plant size is attributable primarily to the amount of sunlight they receive, effectively testing his hypothesis.