Final answer:
The scientific method involves a series of steps starting with observation, questioning, forming a hypothesis, conducting an experiment, collecting data, analysis, revising the hypothesis if necessary, and communication. In the given student's experiment, the plant's growth under horizontal conditions led to the modification and retesting of the initial hypothesis.
Step-by-step explanation:
The steps of the scientific method can be arranged in the following order for the given experiment:
Brian observed that a plant's stem grows against gravity (Observation).
He wondered, Does the position of the pot determine the growth of the stem? (Question).
He hypothesized that the plant’s stem grows perpendicular to the soil (Hypothesis).
To test his hypothesis, Brian placed the pot horizontally (Experiment).
He checked the plant after two weeks and observed that the plant grew parallel to the soil (Data Collection).
On analysis, Brian found that the initial hypothesis was incorrect (Analysis).
He modified the hypothesis and then retested the experiment (Revision and Retesting).
Brian communicated the results to his science class (Communication).
In the scientific method, if the hypothesis is not supported by the experiment, as in this case, it is important to revise the hypothesis and retest. This reflects the iterative nature of scientific inquiry, where experiments and analyses often lead to new hypotheses and further testing.