Before you begin the scientific investigation below, be sure to download the Carnation Color Scientific Investigation Report. As you complete this scientific investigation, fill in any needed information on the report template. If you need more information about each section of the report, please visit the Developmental Module.
This scientific investigation is available below or in a printable version.
Introduction
Most plants take in water from their roots. The water travels up the stem of the plant into the leaves and flowers, where it makes food and helps the plant stay rigid. When a flower is cut off a plant, it no longer has the roots, but the stem of the flower still takes up water and provides it to the leaves and flowers.
Objective
In this scientific investigation, you will:
Hypothesis
Using the Procedure and Data Collection section below, read through the procedural information for this scientific investigation. Based on your understanding of the procedure, develop your own hypotheses which describe your expected results. You should consider the following questions: how will the food coloring affect the color of the white carnations? Will one of the colors create a deeper colored flower or do the colors all absorb to the same degree? Record your hypothesis in the Hypothesis section of the Carnation Color Scientific Investigation Report.
Equipment and Materials
Procedure and Data Collection
Data
Use the tables provided in the Data section of your Carnation Color Scientific Investigation Report to record your data from this scientific investigation. The data tables are also shown below:
Observations During the Experiment | ||||
Time | Cup 1 Red Food Coloring |
Cup 2 Blue Food Coloring |
Cup 3 Green Food Coloring |
Cup 4 Control |
4 hours | ||||
8 hours | ||||
12 hours | ||||
16 hours | ||||
20 hours |
Observations After the Experiment | ||||
Time | Cup 1 Red Food Coloring |
Cup 2 Blue Food Coloring |
Cup 3 Green Food Coloring |
Cup 4 Control |
24 hours |
Data Analysis
In the Data Analysis section of the Carnation Color Scientific Investigation Report, provide responses to the following questions.
Conclusion
Using the Conclusion section of the Carnation Color Scientific Investigation Report, compose three-to-four sentences describing an overall conclusion based on your data. Explain why the carnations changed colors when added to water containing different food coloring. Use the data and notes that you collected from your investigation to form your conclusion. Be sure you include information that you gained from data analysis to support your conclusion.
Experimental Sources of Error
On your Carnation Color Scientific Investigation Report, provide responses to the following questions: Are there any sources of error? If so, what are they, and what could be done to minimize error?
Once you have completed the Carnation Color Scientific Investigation Report, please submit your work to the dropbox.