The Effect of Microwaved Soil, Water and Seeds on the Growth of Peppermint Plants

1. The Effect of Microwaved Soil, Water and Seeds on the Growth of Peppermint Plants Nicole Meyer

2. Interest • Interest in effect of microwaves on plants • If severe results occurred with plants, what are microwaves doing to humans?

3. Problem Statement and Hypothesis Problem Statement: Does microwaving a plant’s seeds, its soil and its water supply affect it’s growth? Hypothesis: If the soil, seed or water of a plant is microwaved, then the growth of the plant will be hindered and the height therefore shorter.

4. Terms to Know • Microwave – a comparatively short electromagnetic wave; especially: one between about one millimeter and one meter in wavelength • Superheating – heat (a liquid) under pressure above its boiling point without vaporization • Heat – the energy transferred as a result of a difference in temperature • Temperature – the degree of hotness of a body, substance, or medium; a physical property related to the average kinetic energy of the atoms or molecules of a substance • Photosynthesis - is the process of converting light energy to chemical energy and storing it in the bonds of sugar

5. Design Diagrams Title: The Effect of Microwaved Water, Soil and Seeds on the Plant’s Growth and Condition Hypothesis: If the soil, seed or water of a plant is microwaved, then the growth of the plant will be hindered and the height therefore shorter. IV: Which variable is being microwaved DV: Plants growth and condition Constants: Lighting, pot material, temperature of water, type of seed, amount of soil, amount of water, temperature of dirt, seeds and air surrounding plant, amount of seeds per pot, type of soil and microwave being used

6. Design Diagram 2 Title: The Effect of Microwaved Water, Soil and Seeds on the Plant’s Growth and Condition Hypothesis: If the soil, seed or water of a plant is microwaved, then the growth of the plant will be hindered and the height therefore shorter. IV: Variable microwaved DV: Plants growth and condition CONSTANTS: Lighting, pot material, temperature of water, type of seed, amount of soil, amount of water, temperature of dirt, seeds and air surrounding plant, amount of seeds per pot, microwave being used and type of water being used.

7. Design Diagram 3 Title: The Effect of Microwaved Water, Soil and Seeds on the Plant’s Growth and Condition Hypothesis: If the soil, seed or water of a plant is microwaved, then the growth of the plant will be hindered and the height therefore shorter. IV: Variable Microwaved DV: Plants growth (height, color, width of stem,) CONSTANTS: Lighting, pot material, temperature of water, amount of soil, amount of water, temperature of dirt, seeds and air surrounding plant, amount of seeds per pot, microwave being used, type of soil, and type of water being used.

8. Procedure and Materials Materials: • 20 plant seeds • 20 small flowerpots • 200 grams of potting soil (per pot) • Measuring cup • Microwave • 15mL per day per pot • Spoon to even out microwaved water • Metric Ruler • Camera for documenting • Printer • Notebook • Graph Paper • Writing utensil

9. Procedure • Buy 20 Peppermint seeds, bag of potting soil, and 20 small plastic pots. • Set up the 20 pots inside on a table or flat area where they all have an equal environment • Using a triple beam balance place an empty pot on the scale and measure its weight in grams • Add 200 grams to that weight and fill the pot with soil until it reaches that amount • Fill each pot with an equal amount of soil and place back on table. • Take out 20 seeds and break into groups of 5. Separate the pots into groups that way as well. • One group will be for microwaved water, one will be for microwaved soil, one will be for microwaved seeds and the last group will be the control. In the experiment there will be 15 experimental and 5 controlled. • Empty one pot into a glass container and put into microwave for 1 minute. • Repeat this procedure 5 times for 5 pots of soil. • After it is microwaved place the soil back in its pot. Label the pot as microwaved soil. Label 5 more as control. Place the 10 pots to the side.

10. Procedure • Take the seeds and place 5 in small glass bowl. Microwave for 1 minute and then place seeds in a bag marked microwaved seeds. Set aside seeds with 5 unused pots that will now be marked microwaved seeds. • Take the other 5 un-microwaved and place in bag marked control seeds. • Place to the side. • At this point you should still have 5 pots left. • Label the 5 pots microwaved water. • Separate into distinguishable groups in an area. • Take the seeds group and poke a 2cm deep hole in the center of the 5 microwaved seeds pot. Place 1 microwaved seed in each hole and cover lightly. • Distribute the rest of the non-microwaved seeds into the rest of the pots using the same technique. • Now you should have 20 pots in front of you. • 5 are microwaved dirt with normal seeds (experimental) • 5 are normal dirt, water and seeds (control) • 5 are microwaved seeds with are normal dirt (experimental) • 5 are microwaved water with normal dirt and normal seeds. (experimental)

11. Procedure • Now you need to water them. • Measure out 20 amounts of water. 15 mL per pot. They can be measured all at once if you have enough containers/cups or you can do them individually and repeat. • Measure out 15 mL. It can be tap or filtered but make sure it is always the same kind. Let them sit until at room temp. • Give each pot 15 mL of water except for the 5 microwaved water group. • Now there will be 5 pots left un-watered. • Then microwave individually 15 mL of water for 40s each. Repeat 5 times. After each amount is microwaved, stir slightly with a spoon to even out the heat in the water. Let the water cool to room temp. and then give the 5 pots marked microwaved water the cooled microwaved water. (15 mL each per pot.)

12. Procedure Finally, there will be 4 groups of 5 in front of you. • Soil Group (5) Microwaved soil, normal water and seeds • Water Group (5) Microwaved water, normal soil and seeds • Seed Group (5)Microwaved seeds, normal water and soil • Control (5) Normal soil, water and seed Continue every day to give all the plants 15 mL of water each with the exception of the 5 microwaved water plants group. Give the 5 plants labeled microwaved water 15 mL of room temp microwaved water every day. Each day make a photo documentation of each group including the pots. (Control vs. Microwaved) Every day measure the height of each plant. Make a chart in you notebook. It might be easier to number each plant and separate them into groups. For example 1 – 5 is water experiment 5 - 10 is seed experiment and 10 – 15 is soil experiment. 15 – 20 is control.

13. Data Table

14. Graph of Averaged Plants Heights

15. Graph of Plants 1-5: Control

16. Graph of Plants 1-5: Microwaved Water

17. Graph of Plants 1-5: Microwaved Soil

18. Graph of Plants 1-5: Microwaved Seeds

19. Photo Documentation

20. Analysis Since no data or documentation could be made I had no basis from which to draw my conclusions. Therefore, I was unable to perform any kind of analysis on my experiment. So in conclusion my hypothesis could not be determined as either supported or refuted.

21. Sources of Error • Human Error • Seeds could be duds • Winter Season • Temperature of Seeds • Exposure to Sunlight • Type of cup used

22. Extensions/Applications • observe organism exposure to microwaves instead of plants • expose plant material to electricity and see how it is affected • This experiment could apply into everyday life in seeing how microwaves affect the food we eat and the organisms including ourselves that live around us.

23. Improvements • put plastic over the plants to help maintain their temperature • put more seeds per pot to increase the chances of growing • use paper cups that could regulate the build up of water inside the pot • use a lamp as a different source of light • change the depth of the seeds planted

24. Thanks to… • My parents • Mrs. Pietrangelo