Classical Music To Plants Lab Report

INTRODUCTION

Plants can sense many factors around them such as temperature changes, harsh winds and even the human touch, but there are continuous debates among scientists about whether or not plants can hear or respond to sound stimuli.

Plants have no specialised structures like most living organisms, but many studies have found that plants can recognise the sound of predators through tiny vibrations in their leaves. It is similar to how the human immune system works; the first experience with insects or bacteria can help plants defend themselves better in future attacks by the same predator. So, a plant might not respond to a hungry caterpillar the first time it encounters one, but the next time it encounters one, the plant will increase

This sample would be the control of the experiment

Secondary Research

• Find information about how plants interpret sound on the internet and in books.

• Analyse data collected by other students or scientists.

THE EXPERIMENT

Hypothesis:

Playing classical music to plants everyday will increase their growth, thus showing that plants can actually respond to sound.

Variables

Controlled variables:

• The environment- both containers were kept in the same room. The plant that was not being grown to classical music was moved to a room with the same conditions when classical music had to be played.

• The amount of water- water was measured using a syringe.

• The size of the beans- the size of the beans was compared to each other to get six beans that were roughly the same size.

• The size of the containers- two similar glass jars were chosen.

Independent variable:

• The amount of music played to the beans.

Dependent variable:

• The reaction of the beans in the absence or presence of music.

Apparatus

• Dry beans x6

• Syringe

• Two containers that are equal in size

• Cotton wool

• Water

• Classical music (downloaded)

• Music source (blue tooth speaker connected to phone)

• Camera

Method