Abstract
In this experiment, we were given a long period of time to grow out Kentucky Fescue grass seeds. This grasses roots grew deep into our little containers, and then we began to pour our "acid rain" onto the plants. Every Tuesday for four weeks we did this. My group had a mixture of 90 mL of water and 10 mL of sulfuric acid. The Kentucky Fescue plant is not very vulnerable at all, we did not see very many changes at first, and only some after our four week period.
Problem
How does acid rain affect the growth of Kentucky Fescue?
Hypothesis
If we add 10 mL of sulfuric acid to 90 mL of water and water our grass with it over a period of four weeks, then the grasses roots should begin to die.
Parts of the Experiment
Control Group- Plants with no H2SO4 in the watering mixture (Groups A & B) Experimental Group- Grasses watered with H2SO4 in their water (Groups C, D, E, F)
Independent Variable- Percent of acid in the mixture
Dependent Variable- Height of the grass
Controlled Variables- Time of water, time of data collection, amount of sunlight
Materials
-12 bottles, planted with Fescue seeds
-Water
-Sulfuric Acid
-Sunlight
Methods
Groups A, B, C, E, F, and G will be responsible for watering one day a week in the following methods. Measure the height of each plant in centimeters every Tuesday that the plants are watered.
Group A: Water 100 mL (pH 6)
Group B: Water 100 mL (pH 6)
Group C: Water 10 mL of Sulfuric Acid and 90 mL of Water (pH 3)
Group E: Water 10 mL of Sulfuric Acid and 90 mL of Water (pH 3)
Group F: Water 50 mL of Sulfuric Acid and 50 mL of Water (pH 1)
Group G: Water 50 mL of Sulfuric Acid and 50 mL of Water (pH 1)
Data
In this experiment, we were given a long period of time to grow out Kentucky Fescue grass seeds. This grasses roots grew deep into our little containers, and then we began to pour our "acid rain" onto the plants. Every Tuesday for four weeks we did this. My group had a mixture of 90 mL of water and 10 mL of sulfuric acid. The Kentucky Fescue plant is not very vulnerable at all, we did not see very many changes at first, and only some after our four week period.
Problem
How does acid rain affect the growth of Kentucky Fescue?
Hypothesis
If we add 10 mL of sulfuric acid to 90 mL of water and water our grass with it over a period of four weeks, then the grasses roots should begin to die.
Parts of the Experiment
Control Group- Plants with no H2SO4 in the watering mixture (Groups A & B) Experimental Group- Grasses watered with H2SO4 in their water (Groups C, D, E, F)
Independent Variable- Percent of acid in the mixture
Dependent Variable- Height of the grass
Controlled Variables- Time of water, time of data collection, amount of sunlight
Materials
-12 bottles, planted with Fescue seeds
-Water
-Sulfuric Acid
-Sunlight
Methods
Groups A, B, C, E, F, and G will be responsible for watering one day a week in the following methods. Measure the height of each plant in centimeters every Tuesday that the plants are watered.
Group A: Water 100 mL (pH 6)
Group B: Water 100 mL (pH 6)
Group C: Water 10 mL of Sulfuric Acid and 90 mL of Water (pH 3)
Group E: Water 10 mL of Sulfuric Acid and 90 mL of Water (pH 3)
Group F: Water 50 mL of Sulfuric Acid and 50 mL of Water (pH 1)
Group G: Water 50 mL of Sulfuric Acid and 50 mL of Water (pH 1)
Data
Specific Analysis
As I have previously mentioned, the Kentucky Fescue is very strong plant. The roots grew well inside of our bottles, and for having some Sulfuric Acid within our water that we used on the plant, it did not seem to harm it very much. Through the data on our graph we can recognize that the Fescue did continue to grow for a week after we bagan watering it with this mixture of water and Sulfuric acid, and then decreased in height in the next two weeks. Although, this growth was very minimal.
Conclusion + Errors
The hypothesis I made was almost correct. Our Fescue's roots only browned slightly, further showing that this is almost the perfect type of grass. It was able to flourish in a short amount of growing time, and was not highly effected by the Sulfuric Acid. This means that the Kentucky Fescue would be a great investment in areas where pollution levels are higher, resulting in acid rain over these areas. These areas would most likely be within cities or more industrialized areas. Though, there could have been errors within this lab. Certain people grew their grass differently at the beginning of our Fescue journey, which could have made it weaker or stronger in their roots. This could have depended on watering or what type of soil they used. Also, as we began to cut our grass, most likely not every group began their grass at the same exact height which could have fluctuated the ending height results.
In my first citation, they mentioned that the EPA does not know what to do about all the levels of acid rain that are occurring within the US, that this is a matter that only us as people can fix, and this lab makes it evident that it needs to be stopped.
The second citation, they specifically address the effects acid rain has on grass. It states that acid rain can stunt the growth of grass, which happened in our lab, and even kill grass. It also says that this is more likely to happen on the Eastern parts of the US because of the higher population and probably the use of more polluting energy sources.
As I have previously mentioned, the Kentucky Fescue is very strong plant. The roots grew well inside of our bottles, and for having some Sulfuric Acid within our water that we used on the plant, it did not seem to harm it very much. Through the data on our graph we can recognize that the Fescue did continue to grow for a week after we bagan watering it with this mixture of water and Sulfuric acid, and then decreased in height in the next two weeks. Although, this growth was very minimal.
Conclusion + Errors
The hypothesis I made was almost correct. Our Fescue's roots only browned slightly, further showing that this is almost the perfect type of grass. It was able to flourish in a short amount of growing time, and was not highly effected by the Sulfuric Acid. This means that the Kentucky Fescue would be a great investment in areas where pollution levels are higher, resulting in acid rain over these areas. These areas would most likely be within cities or more industrialized areas. Though, there could have been errors within this lab. Certain people grew their grass differently at the beginning of our Fescue journey, which could have made it weaker or stronger in their roots. This could have depended on watering or what type of soil they used. Also, as we began to cut our grass, most likely not every group began their grass at the same exact height which could have fluctuated the ending height results.
In my first citation, they mentioned that the EPA does not know what to do about all the levels of acid rain that are occurring within the US, that this is a matter that only us as people can fix, and this lab makes it evident that it needs to be stopped.
The second citation, they specifically address the effects acid rain has on grass. It states that acid rain can stunt the growth of grass, which happened in our lab, and even kill grass. It also says that this is more likely to happen on the Eastern parts of the US because of the higher population and probably the use of more polluting energy sources.