When seeds germinate they use energy and give off heat. To test this, you can use temperature sensors which will continuously monitor any heat produced.
You will need to set up some seeds in an insulated flask, and monitor their temperatures. The sensors can record very small temperature changes, often enough to yield results in a fairly short period of time.
You'll need to wash the seeds in 'Hypochlorite' solution to kill any fungal spores that can also produce heat. You will also need a control experiment - a batch of seeds which have been killed by boiling. |
What you need
Two vacuum flasks, cotton wool, germinating pea seeds, hypochlorite solution, Bunsen burner, mat and gauze, data logging interface, temperature sensors.
Setting up
Connect the two temperature sensors to the first two sockets on the interface.
Soak the pea seeds, in Hypochlorite solution for 15 minutes to kill off fungal spores. Divide the batch of pea seeds into two parts. Boil one part for 10 minutes to kill the seeds. Allow them to cool. Set up the two vacuum flasks with the batches of pea seeds. Put a temperature probe each and add a cotton wool plug. If the sensors are adjustable, use a suitable range such as -10-40 degrees.
Start your sensing software. It may recognise the sensors you attach. Set up sensing software to record for 60 minutes.
Questions
Did the control show any temperature change?
What does the graph tell you about heat and germination?
What does the shape of the graph tell you about the progress of the germination?
If you recorded for twice as long how would the graph look?
Teacher question
How does having a graphical record, as opposed to temperature readings, affect pupils understanding of this experiment?
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Activities in this section adapted from The IT in Science book of Data logging and Control. © IT in Science and may be reproduced for use within your school. |