Cattails

#1

A Scientist noticed that cattails grew only in swampy parts of his backyard. He decided to try to find out why?

 #2

He went to the library and found out the following facts


 #3

The scientist though for awhile, then said, " I think I have figured out the answer. Cattails need a lot of water to grow."

 #4

He then went into his yard and dug up 100 cattails. He divided them into four groups. Each group contained 25 cattails. All of the
groups were grown in the same type of soil, they all received the same amount of light, and they were all kept at the same
temperature. There was only one difference between the groups. Group 1 received 4 quarts of water a day. Group 2 received 3
quarts of water a day. Group 3 received 2 quarts of water a day. Group 4 received 1 quart of water each day.

 #5

Every day he went out and measured the plants. After 30 days he observed that the plants in group 1 had grown an average of 8
inches. The plants in group 2 had grown an average of 4 inches. The plants in group 3 had grown an average of 2 inches. The
plants in group 4 had grown an average of only 1 inch.

 #6

He then decided that the amount of water that a cattail receives effects its growth. Plants that receive more water, grow more.

#7

The scientist then repeated his experiment using another 100 cattails.

DIRECTIONS: Fill in the data chart and answer the questions in full sentences where it is appropriate.

DATA Table:
 
 
     
     
     
     
     

DIRECTIONS: Answer the following questions in complete sentences.
 

  1. What was the problem that the scientist was trying to find an answer to?
  2. What was his hypothesis?
  3. What was his hypothesis based on? Why did he think that he had the right answer to the problem?
  4. What conclusion did he come to?
  5. What was his conclusion based on?
  6. Did his conclusion support his hypothesis?
  7. What was the dependent variable in the experiment?
  8. What was the independent variable in the experiment?
  9. Name the 3 variables that were controlled in the experiment.
  10. Why did he repeat the experiment with another 100 cattails?

 

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