Question

One day you notice that part of your garden is much more prolific in producing flowers than another part. You observe that some sections of the garden are sunny most of the day and others are usually in the shade. You then wonder if the amount of sunlight affects the extent of flower production. How might you use the scientific method to test your idea that sunlight affects flower production

Answer 1

Answer and Explanation:

The steps of the scientific method are

1) A question the investigator wants to answer.

2) Antecedents or Previous knowledge about the study object.

3) The goal, which is what the investigator wants to know.

4) The hypothesis that the investigator makes in order to predict what is going to happen.

5)The experiment is performed to answer the question.

6) Results achievement

7) Conclusions where the hypothesis is rejected or accepted.

In the case of the exposed example,

1. Question: How does the amount of sunlight affect the extent of flower production?
2. Previous knowledge and antecedents about solar radiation influencing different plant growth and flowering. Information about the species of interest. Other studies or investigations performed in relation to this question.
3. Objective/Goal: To study the influence of sunlight in flowering
4. Hypothesis: Too many hours of radiation affect flowering production
5. Experiment: (Example)

Native species are going to be planted in the garden to observe their growth and flower production at different exposure levels to sunlight. Native species will be planted, as they are used to the environmental conditions and they do not need extra care, as a cultivated species would. More than one individual is needed to ensure their establishment. All the species will be watered according to each species needs and location. Plagues will be equally controlled.

• 3 native individuals of a herbaceous plant, 3 native individuals of a woody plant, and 3 native grass plants are located in a sunny section that receives straight sun radiation during the whole light hours.  

• 3 native individuals of a herbaceous plant, 3 native individuals of a woody plant, and 3 native grass plants are located in a sunny section that receives sun radiation during half a day

• 3 native individuals of a herbaceous plant, 3 native individuals of a woody plant, and 3 native grass plants are located in a  shaded section.

Plants will be grown and the flowering process will be recorded by season in relation to the number of flowers, sizes, quality, and pollinizer visitors which will reflect the amount and quality of nectar.

6 y 7. Every recorded result will be then analyzed to conclude.