A student investigated the effect of root space on plant growth. The student grew two groups of plants of the same variety. Both groups received the same amount of water and sunlight and grew in the same type of soil. The plants in Group A were grown in cube-shaped containers that were 3 centimeters deep. The plants in Group B were grown in cube-shaped containers that were 10 centimeters deep. The table shows the student's observations
Week Plant Group A (Average Height, cm) Plant Group B (Average Height, cm)
1 2 3
2 3 6
3 5 8
4 7 10
5 8 14
6 10 18
What was the effect of root space on plant growth based on the student's investigation? Use the data from the table to support your answer. Explain how you would know whether this effect was likely due to environmental or genetic factors.
(2 points)
Well, from the data presented in the table, it seems clear that the plants in Group B, which had more root space, grew taller compared to the plants in Group A. This suggests that root space has a positive effect on plant growth. The plants in Group B consistently showed greater average heights than the plants in Group A at each corresponding week.
To determine whether this effect is likely due to environmental or genetic factors, we would need further investigation. One way to explore this would be to repeat the experiment under different environmental conditions. For example, conducting the experiment in a different type of soil or with varying amounts of water and sunlight could help determine if these factors have an influence on plant growth independent of root space.
Additionally, conducting the experiment with different plant varieties or conducting a breeding experiment could shed light on the genetic aspect of plant growth. By comparing the growth of different plant varieties in containers of varying root space, one could analyze if certain genetic traits play a role in plant height irrespective of root space.
In conclusion, while the data from the student's investigation indicates that root space has an effect on plant growth, further analysis is needed to determine whether this effect is likely due to environmental factors, genetic factors, or a combination of both.
Based on the data from the table, it can be observed that the plants in Group B, which were grown in containers with more root space (10 centimeters deep), consistently grew taller than the plants in Group A, which had less root space (3 centimeters deep).
In Week 1, the plants in Group A had an average height of 2 centimeters, while the plants in Group B had an average height of 3 centimeters. This trend continued throughout the following weeks, with the plants in Group B consistently having a higher average height than those in Group A.
By Week 6, the plants in Group B had nearly doubled their average height compared to Week 1, reaching 18 centimeters, while the plants in Group A only reached 10 centimeters. This demonstrates a clear effect of root space on plant growth, with the plants in containers with more root space growing taller.
To determine whether this effect was likely due to environmental or genetic factors, further investigation is needed. One way to do this is to conduct a controlled experiment. The student should repeat the experiment using plants of the same variety but with different root space within each group. For example, Group A could have containers with 3 centimeters deep root space, 5 centimeters deep root space, and 7 centimeters deep root space. Similarly, Group B could have containers with 10 centimeters deep root space, 12 centimeters deep root space, and 15 centimeters deep root space.
If the plants in each group with larger root space consistently grow taller, it would suggest that the effect is likely due to the environmental factor of root space, as the genetic factor (variety of plant) remains constant. On the other hand, if the plants with larger root space within each group do not consistently grow taller, it would suggest that genetic factors play a significant role in plant growth, even with varying root spaces.
By conducting such controlled experiments and collecting data, the student can further explore and differentiate between the effects of environmental and genetic factors on plant growth in relation to root space.
Based on the data from the table, it is clear that the plants in Group B, which were grown in containers with a larger root space (10 centimeters deep), exhibited greater average heights compared to the plants in Group A, which were grown in containers with a smaller root space (3 centimeters deep).
In Week 1, the plants in Group A had an average height of 2 centimeters, while the plants in Group B had an average height of 3 centimeters. As the weeks progressed, the difference in average height between the two groups became more significant. By Week 6, the plants in Group A had reached an average height of 10 centimeters, while the plants in Group B had reached an average height of 18 centimeters.
This difference in average height clearly suggests that the availability of more root space had a positive effect on plant growth. This can be seen by comparing the growth patterns of the two groups over time.
To determine whether this effect was likely due to environmental or genetic factors, additional factors should be considered.
If the two groups of plants were subjected to identical environmental conditions (same amount of water, sunlight, and soil type), it can be inferred that the difference in root space was the primary factor contributing to the difference in plant growth. This would suggest that the effect was mainly due to environmental factors.
However, if the two groups of plants were exposed to different environmental conditions, other than root space, it becomes more challenging to determine the specific contribution of root space alone. For example, if Group B received more frequent or intense sunlight or if it had access to richer or better-draining soil, these factors could have influenced the plants' growth independently of root space.
In order to make a more definitive conclusion about the effect of root space on plant growth, it would be necessary to conduct a controlled experiment where all other factors (such as light, water, and soil) are kept constant, while only varying the root space. By doing so, any observed differences in plant growth can be confidently attributed to the effect of root space.