Design an experiment to observe if water transportation in plants is quicker in warm or cold conditions.
Take four similar glass tumblers and label them A, B, C, and D. Fill each tumbler one-third with water and add a few drops of red ink to each. Take four similar tender plants with white flowers and place one in each tumbler.
Keep tumblers A and B in a warm place (near a heater or in sunlight) and tumblers C and D in a cold place (in a refrigerator or near ice). Ensure all plants receive similar light conditions except for the temperature difference.
Observe the plants after 6 hours, 12 hours, and 24 hours. Record how quickly the red colour appears in the stem, leaves, and flowers of each plant.
The red colour will appear faster in plants kept in warm conditions because higher temperatures increase the rate of water transport through the xylem. The movement of water and minerals through the xylem is faster when temperatures are warmer due to increased transpiration rate.
Explanation
The chapter describes Activity 10.7 on page 11-12, which demonstrates water transport in plants using red ink. The experiment shows that water and minerals move up through the xylem. Temperature affects the rate of transpiration and thus the speed of water transport in plants.
Solution Steps
Take four similar glass tumblers and label them A, B, C, and D
Fill each tumbler one-third with water and add a few drops of red ink to each
Take four similar tender plants with white flowers and place one in each tumbler
Keep tumblers A and B in a warm place (near a heater or in sunlight)
Keep tumblers C and D in a cold place (in a refrigerator or near ice)
Ensure all plants receive similar light conditions except for the temperature difference
Observe the plants after 6 hours, 12 hours, and 24 hours
Record how quickly the red colour appears in the stem, leaves, and flowers of each plant
Compare results: red colour appears faster in warm conditions due to increased transpiration rate through the xylem