Upload
patrick-cole
View
217
Download
0
Tags:
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
The Effect of Acid Rain on Plants
Susan Base, Jessica Best, Amy Crook, and Tya Dawson
Materials
• greenhouse
• 5 half flats
• 180 bean seeds
• Acids of varying pHs
• Distilled water - to serve
as a control
•Soil Soil
•Digital camera - to record Digital camera - to record
appearanceappearance
•Rulers to record growth Rulers to record growth
(height in cm) of the plants(height in cm) of the plants
Research Questions
1. How will different concentrations of acid affect
the growth and appearance of bean plants?
2. At what rate will each group of plants
deteriorate?
3. What is the ideal acidity of liquid for the bean
plants to thrive?
4. How does this relate to acid rain in our
environment?
Research Questions
1.The lower the pH level the more damage caused
to the plants. Measurements for 11/22/02
Plant # of Days Level of Acidity Height (cm) Appearance#1 24 pH-1 12 Poor#2 24 pH-1 22.9 Poor# 3 24 pH-1 20.2 Poor#4 24 pH-1 19.1 Poor#5 24 pH-1 16.7 Poor#6 24 pH-1 15.9 Poor#7 24 pH-1 18.8 Poor#8 24 pH-1 24.2 Poor#9 24 pH-1 23.3 Poor
#10 24 pH-1 13.3 Poor#11 24 pH-1 18.1 Poor#12 24 pH-1 11.7 Poor#13 24 pH-1 21.5 Poor#14 24 pH-1 22.3 Poor#15 24 pH-1 18 Poor#16 24 pH-1 20.6 Poor#17 24 pH-1 17.7 Poor#18 24 pH-1 19.1 Poor
Research Questions
2. Deterioration: the decline in the health and
growth of the plants in the specified tray.
Control: most successful
pH-1: least successful of the acid groups
Nitric: most successful of the acid groups
Research Questions
3. The ideal acidity would contain pH levels between 5 and 7,
similar to that of water.Measurements for 11/22/02
Type # of Days Level of Acidity Height (cm) AppearancepH5 24 pH5 44.6 GoodpH5 24 pH5 23.2 GoodpH5 24 pH5 29.1 GoodpH5 24 pH5 26 GoodpH5 24 pH5 27.2 GoodpH5 24 pH5 16.1 GoodpH5 24 pH5 26.5 GoodpH5 24 pH5 24.2 GoodpH5 24 pH5 28.7 GoodpH5 24 pH5 17.6 GoodpH5 24 pH5 24.1 GoodpH5 24 pH5 25.7 GoodpH5 24 pH5 27.5 GoodpH5 24 pH5 28 GoodpH5 24 pH5 25.3 GoodpH5 24 pH5 24.5 GoodpH5 24 pH5 26 GoodpH5 24 pH5 22.6 Good
Research Questions
4. Serves as a model to acid rain to our because the
higher acid concentration the less likely plants would
be able to survive Measurements for 11/22/02Plant # of Days Level of Acidity Height (cm) Appearance
#1 24 pH-1 12 Poor#2 24 pH-1 22.9 Poor# 3 24 pH-1 20.2 Poor#4 24 pH-1 19.1 Poor#5 24 pH-1 16.7 Poor#6 24 pH-1 15.9 Poor#7 24 pH-1 18.8 Poor#8 24 pH-1 24.2 Poor#9 24 pH-1 23.3 Poor#10 24 pH-1 13.3 Poor#11 24 pH-1 18.1 Poor#12 24 pH-1 11.7 Poor#13 24 pH-1 21.5 Poor#14 24 pH-1 22.3 Poor#15 24 pH-1 18 Poor#16 24 pH-1 20.6 Poor#17 24 pH-1 17.7 Poor#18 24 pH-1 19.1 Poor
The Five Groups of Plants
Control Group: Tray 1Distilled Water
BEFORE
Control Group: Tray 1Distilled Water
AFTER
pH -1 : Tray 2BEFORE
pH -1 : Tray 2AFTER
pH 1 : Tray 3BEFORE
pH 1 : Tray 3AFTER
pH 4 : Tray 4BEFORE
pH 4 : Tray 4AFTER
pH5 : Tray 5BEFORE
pH5 : Tray 5 AFTER
Descriptive Statisticsby solution
Bar Chart of Solution and Appearance
Final Appearance
Final Height Measurements
Methods/ProcessMethods/Process Watered/Measured on November 12th,16th,19th,22ndWatered/Measured on November 12th,16th,19th,22nd
Solutions measured in designated squirt bottlesSolutions measured in designated squirt bottles
Same person measured her designated tray.Same person measured her designated tray.
Only one person took photographs to ensure appearance accuracyOnly one person took photographs to ensure appearance accuracy
We will first calculate the amount of acid to add to the distilled water to We will first calculate the amount of acid to add to the distilled water to
obtain the desired pH. obtain the desired pH.
Hypothesis based on our Hypothesis based on our processprocess
The concentration of the acid used to water the plant will be inversely proportionate to The concentration of the acid used to water the plant will be inversely proportionate to
the height of plant growththe height of plant growth
The higher concentrations of acid will cause the leaves to turn yellow or be smaller The higher concentrations of acid will cause the leaves to turn yellow or be smaller
than the leaves of the plants that have been treated with lower concentrations of acid.than the leaves of the plants that have been treated with lower concentrations of acid.
The plants' rate of deterioration will depend on the concentration The plants' rate of deterioration will depend on the concentration
of the acid within waterof the acid within water
The plants treated with the higher acidic pH levels The plants treated with the higher acidic pH levels
will deteriorate more quickly than those with lower pH levels.will deteriorate more quickly than those with lower pH levels.
Acid Rain on a larger scaleAcid Rain on a larger scale
acid rain is a huge contributing factor to the harm of ecosystems. acid rain is a huge contributing factor to the harm of ecosystems.
Acid rain is generally made up of acidic gases that have dissolved in rain- Acid rain is generally made up of acidic gases that have dissolved in rain-
water. water.
Rain-water usually has a pH level of about 5Rain-water usually has a pH level of about 5
Acid Rain usually has an average pH level of 4.4, but it can be lowered to 4 Acid Rain usually has an average pH level of 4.4, but it can be lowered to 4
or even 3 due to the acidic gases in the environment. or even 3 due to the acidic gases in the environment.
These gases are generally the pollutants of energy companies and other These gases are generally the pollutants of energy companies and other
highly polluting sources in our environment.highly polluting sources in our environment.
Acid Rain Prevention
• SO2 emissions from power stations can be SO2 emissions from power stations can be reducedreduced
• Alternative energy sources such as hydroelectric, Alternative energy sources such as hydroelectric, wind, solar, and geothermal powers can be used wind, solar, and geothermal powers can be used instead of burning fossil fuelsinstead of burning fossil fuels
• Anything that consumes less energy overall Anything that consumes less energy overall should be usedshould be used