The Effect of Increased Gravitational Field on the Growth of Raphanus sativus (Radish Plants)
This experiment tested the growth of Raphanus sativus (radish plants) and how their growth was affected by an increased gravitational field. The experiment was run by placing one tray of plants onto each of two baby swings, then placing a control group of plants next to the baby swings. The swings were run twenty-four hours a day, as to simulate a constant increase in the gravitational field. The plants were only taken off of the swings to be watered and measured. After the plants germinated, they were grown for two extra days and then their height was measured in centimeters.
This experiment was run to test how well plants would grow in an increased gravitational field. This subject has become very important recently. With scarcity of land and the new space age, it is a definite possibility that plants may one day be grown on another planet. This may not be during this generation or the next, but any research done will help this cause for the future.
After the experiment had been run, and all calculations were final, it was found that an increased gravitational field had a statistically significant effect on the growth of radish plants. The plants exposed to the high gravitational field grew to about 5.1 centimeters in length, which was about 1.5 centimeters shorter than the growth of the control group. With this data, it was found that an increased gravitational field does hinder the growth of a plant supported by evidence with a p-value of 0.0001.
Research Done By:
James Mariani
Sterling Heights High School
Kristen Stadler
Cousino High School
Warren Consolidated Schools