(Catchy Experiment Title)

What effect does temperature have on capillary action in carnations ? (Essential Question)

ByI. B. Awesome &Positive Partner

Background Research(cut and paste final draft research report and make it fit on one page…)

Hypothesis When a carnation is placed in

water of different temperatures, colder water will be absorbed more quickly into the flower than warmer water.

VariablesIndependent Variable

(uncontrolled variable):

Water Temperature

Dependent Variable: Speed of absorption

Variables (cont.)Controlled Variables

(variables that stayed the same in each trial):

Amount of water Amount of food coloring Type and size of container

Materials 1. Five freshly-cut, white carnations2. Five identical glass jars3. Five cups room temperature water4. Different colors of food coloring5. Pan & hot plate6. Ice 7. Thermometer8. Time piece with seconds indicator9. Measuring cup

Procedures I

1. Heat 1 cup water in pan until it reaches 95 degrees.

2. Pour water into glass jar. 3. Place red food coloring in jar. 4. Place a carnation, stem down. into the

jar. 5. Record the time flower is placed in

water.

Procedures II

6. Heat 1 cup water in pan until it reaches 80 degrees.

7. Repeat steps 2 – 5 for this sample. 8. Allow 1 cup of water to reach room

temperature. 9. Record that temperature. 10. Repeat steps 2-5 for this sample.

Procedures III

11. Chill 1 cup of water to a temperature of 50 degrees.

12. Repeat steps 2 – 5 for this sample. 13. Chill 1 cup of water to a temperature

of 30 degrees. 14. Repeat steps 2-5 for this sample. 15. Observe & record times & colors for

all samples over a period of 4 days.

Color Absorption Scale

Color Stain

No color

Very faint color

Faint color

Medium color

Intense color

Score 0 1 2 3 4

Observations I : Flower Color

Day 1Color

Day 2Color

Day 3 Color

Day 4Color

95° 1 2 4 4

80° 0 1 2 3

Room Temp

0 0 1 1

50° 0 1 2 2

30° 0 0 0 1

Observations I : Hot Water

The 95° water was colored red. When the carnation was placed in that temperature, the flower began to wilt immediately. By the 2nd day, the food coloring began to stain the petals. By the 3rd day the petals showed a darker stain and were shriveled up.

Observations II : Warm Water

Orange food coloring was used to color the 85° water. When the blossom was placed in the water nothing seemed to happen at first, but by the 2nd day, the petals had begun to wilt. By the 3rd day, the petals were showing a faint orange color. By day 4, the flowers wilted.

Observations III: Room Temp

The room temperature water was colored yellow. After the carnation was placed in the water no changes occurred until the 4th day, when the petals began to show a very faint yellow tinge. By this time the flower began to wilt. I think yellow may have been too pale a color to show up on the white petals.

Observations IV: Cool Water

The 50° water was colored with the green food coloring. The first day the carnation was in the water the petals showed no change in color. On the 2nd through 4th days, a green stain appeared and got darker as time went on. The flower stayed pretty fresh-looking.

Observations V: Cold Water

The 30° water had blue food coloring in it. After the flower went into the water, there were no changes until the 4th day, when a faint blue color began to stain the petals. The flower still looked pretty fresh on the 4th day.

Data

ResultsThe data showed that: The fastest capillary action occurred when

the water was 95 degrees. The slowest capillary action occurred

when the water was 30 degrees. The lower the temperature, the slower the

capillary action. The room temperature water did not

follow the same pattern.

Conclusions Capillary action in flowers was originally

expected to take place faster in colder water. Capillary action in flowers actually happened

faster in warmer water. The higher the water temperature was, the faster water was absorbed into a carnation.

The room temperature water seemed to absorb more slowly than the cooler water, probably because its yellow color was too pale to see.

A cooler water temperature may provide the best chance of survival for carnations.

New Questions 1. Would the results be the same if yellow

food coloring was changed to an easier-to-see color?

2. Would other kinds of flowers respond to water temperature the same way?

3. What are the coldest & hottest water temperatures a carnation can tolerate?