Scientific RACES Lesson

​Example 1

In this lab, I tested the effect of temperature on germination of seeds. My hypothesis was that if seeds were kept at different temperatures, then the warmest temperatures would produce more seeds to germinate because warmer temperatures provide the best conditions for cell division and growth. My results do support my hypothesis. None of the seeds kept below 15° C germinated. By day two, 50% of the seeds kept at 20°C germinated and 90% of the seeds kept at 25°C germinated. The results occurred because seeds need warmer temperatures for proper cell function, including division and growth. In summary, I conclude that temperatures above 20°C provide the best conditions for seed germination.

​Example 2

In this experiment we tested which type of food was preferred by wild birds. Our hypothesis was that if birds were provided different food sources, then the cracked corn would be preferred because it has the most calories and can provide the most energy. Our results do not support our hypothesis. By the end of the five day study period, 7.2 grams of corn, 8.0 grams of thistle, 6.1 grams of sorghum, 11.6 grams of sunflower seeds had been consumed by the birds. These results may have occurred because corn is not a natural part of the birds’ diets and is not preferred even though it contains the most energy. Based on our study, we conclude that birds prefer more natural food sources like sunflower seeds and thistle over corn and sorghum.