Tropisms Are Usually Named for the Stimulus Involved for Example, a Phototropism and Geotropism
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Name ___________________________________________________________ Period _______ 7th Grade Science Tropism s Lab Unit 8 Introduction A tropism is a growth or turning movement of a plant, in response to an environmental stimulus. Tropisms are usually named for the stimulus involved for example, a phototropism and geotropism. Phototropism is a reaction to light where the plant grows toward the light. Geotropism is a reaction of the plant growth to gravity. In geotropism, the force of gravity pulls the roots downward and in response the plant grows upward. Objectives • Complete a scientific experiment testing a single variable. • Understand how plants respond to different environmental conditions. • Identify how geotropism affects plants. Materials One Zip-Loc sandwich bag Four soaked mustard seeds One piece of paper towel Water Tape Scissors and stapler (If Necessary) Procedure 1. Write your group member names on one side of the Zip-Loc bag using a Sharpie. 2. Obtain a piece of paper towel from the dispenser. Fold the piece of paper towel so that it will fit inside of the Zip-Loc bag. You may need to cut the paper towel down a bit. 3. Soak the paper towel with water. Remove excess water by squeezing the paper towel. The paper towel should be damp, but not dripping. 4. Lay you damp paper towel flat on your table. Place seeds on the paper towel with the seeds’ pointed ends facing inward. Think of them as “hands on a clock” at 12, 3, 6, and 9 5. Carefully slide the paper towel with the seeds on top into the Zip-Loc bag. Be sure not to move the seeds as you insert the paper towel into the bag. 6. While pushing down on the bag to remove the excess air in the bag, seal the bag closed. 7. You should be able to see the seeds and they should remain in the same position as you lift the bag to a vertical position. (If you are unable to keep the seeds in position when the bag is raised to a vertical position, ask your teacher to help you staple a pocket around the seeds to help keep them in place.) 8. Tape the bag containing seeds to the inside door of the cabinet so that the seeds are visible. 9. Close the cupboard door so that no light is exposed to the seeds for the next few days. The bags are kept in a dark cabinet so that the only variable being tested is the seeds’ response to gravity. Their response to light is not being tested. 10. After students have finished setting up and storing their seeds, have each student predict the results of the experiment by drawing how they think the roots will grow from each of the four seeds. Data / Observations Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Observations Sketch Conclusion Questions 1. How does the response of roots to gravity help a plant? 2. Observe flowers growing in your neighborhood. Do they change the way they grow depending on where the light is? If so, how does this help the plant survive? 3. What do you think would happen if you place a light source below the plant? How would the stem grow? 4. Which do you think has a stronger influence on a plant—geotropism or phototropism? How could you design an experiment to test this? Tropism Video Analysis Questions Now you will watch a series of short video clips that will illustrate the various types of tropisms. Watch each clip and the answer the following questions. Geotropism/Gravitropism: http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&feature=endscreen&v=8SkKuwbmR5Y 1. In which direction was the plant pointing at the beginning of the video? 2. What direction was the plant growing at the end of the video? 3. Why is geotropism beneficial to plants? 4. What was the force that caused the roots to grow downward? Phototropism: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ze8NV7cvW8k 1. In which direction were the leaves growing at the beginning of the video? 2. What direction were the leaves growing at the end of the video? 3. How long do you think it took for these plants to move from the beginning of the video to the end? 4. Why is phototropism beneficial to plants? Thigmotropism: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTljaIVseTc&NR=1 1. How did the plant react when it came in contact with the wooden rod? 2. Why is thigmotropism beneficial to plants? Emergence: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d26AhcKeEbE&feature=related 1. A plant begins as a seed beneath the surface. How does the plant know which direction to grow so that is may “emerge” from the soil and begin the photosynthetic process? .