Apply the scientific method to environmental investigation. THE EXPERIMENTResear

Question

Apply the scientific method to environmental investigation.

THE EXPERIMENTResearchers wanted to determine if a new organic pesticide Z was effective at killing grasshoppers that typically invade cornfields. The effect of the grasshoppers in the fields is a decrease in yield which has economic consequences on the farmers. For the study two ten-acre cornfields located 1 mile apart were chosen. The cornfield to the west was sprayed only with water. The cornfield on the east received the same amount of water with a 10% solution of organic pesticide Z. Samples of the numbers of grasshoppers in the field were made every week for 10 weeks.

RESULTSWest field treated only with waterThe number of grasshoppers in the west field doubled after ten weeks.

East field treated with pesticide ZThe number of grasshoppers in the east field declined by 50% after 10 weeks.

The following questions relate to this experiment.                               

1) State a possible hypothesis for this study.

2) What was the purpose of conducting this experiment?

3) What was the independent variable in the above experiment?

4) What was the dependent variable in the above experiment?

5) Which group was the control group?

6) Why is it important to have a control group in the experimental design?

7) Which of the following is the most accurate conclusion about these results?

                        Pesticide Z is a good way to control most insect infestations on fields of corn, wheat, or oats.

                        East fields are more likely than west fields to have problems with grasshoppers eating corn crops.

                        If a cornfield is sprayed with pesticide Z, it will have fewer grasshoppers 10 weeks later.

                        Pesticide Z is unable to kill grasshoppers and is not suitable for the use in modern agriculture.

8) Based on the results of the experiment what will be your recommendation to the farmer in order to decrease the number of grasshoppers in the cornfield.

9) Arrange the stages of the scientific method listed below in order from first to last.

Analyze data

Formulate hypothesis

Make observation about nature

Reject or accept hypothesis

Conduct experiments

10) You have noticed that after you forget to water your houseplant it wilts. This is an example of which part of the scientific method:

a. Hypothesis b. Observations c. Experiment

Explanation / Answer

1) The number of grasshoppers declines in cornfields by the treatment of the new organic pesticide Z.

2) The purpose of conducting this experiment was to check the effectiveness of the new organic pesticide Z.

3) Independent variable in the above experiment is the spray of the new organic pesticide Z.

4) Dependent variable in the above experiment is the population of grasshoppers.

5) The west field which was sprayed only with water was the control group.

6) It is important to have a control group in the experimental design to focus on the change variable. Without a control, you have no way to assess the behavior of your test.

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