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Plant Data: Graphs

(UPDATE ALL GRAPHS: UNABLE TO ON MAC) (ADD GRAPH: UNABLE TO ON MAC) This graph shows the plant weight in regulation with the amount of water given. Every day I recorded the data, I gave the plant about 10 ml of water and then weighed it, recording my measurements. (Note: weight taken with pot)

However, my plant seems to have barely grown in accordance to time or water. I expected that my graph would show a more linear and constant path in the plant's weight but it clearly show little reasonable alignment. There was also a drastic change of slope. After about 25 days of note-taking, my plant's weight started to decrease at a fairly rapid rate. I'm not completely sure why this happened (tools, leftover water, measurements?) but my predictions would have never led me to believe such a drastic change in weight. I would not have thought that my plant could reach a climax (did it?) and that it's data showed little to do with water and time. My uncertainties for this trial were as follows. The water I hydrated my plant with had an uncertainty of 0.3 ml +/-. The balance I used had an uncertainty of 0.02 g +/- (?). Even with these uncertainties, I was able to learn on my plant's uncertain growth. (Though it remains a mystery, I suspect that it may be due to leftover water in the pot and not completely with my plant's actual growth.) However, with the uncertainties, I am unable to know for sure of my plant's growth; if there it reaches a climax and then decreases, its growth rate, etc.

media type="custom" key="3837483" I measured both the length of the crevice and the highest part of the right half of my plant with a ruler, beginning at the bottom of the leaf, where the soil ended. It seems most probable that the leaf began growing and then tilted since I do not believe it actually shrank.

My second graph followed more closely to my expectations of a linear path than the first graph showed above. Both the length or rather height of the crevice and right half followed the same pattern. Both my categories of measurements show a fairly constant rate with about the same slope which stays about the same. After about 45 days, the graph shows a short decline. The "length of right side" of the leaf then goes constant with no variation while the "length of crevice" continues into a linear and constant decline which ends shortly after its start. The uncertainties for both my measurements were 0.03 cm +/-. I had to push the soil back a bit in order to start my measurement at the correct spot on my ruler and I think this may have caused a bit of variation in the reliability of my measurements. Even with this uncertainty, however, I was able to see my leaf climax into a constant length, which I had not thought to expect before. However, I was unable to do much concrete analyzation for the "length of the crevice" of my leaf, due to my uncertainty. Was there any purpose in the growth decline of the leaf's crevice? Did it have anything to with my third graph, the plant's movement?

media type="custom" key="3837511" Each day of note-taking, I aligned the same edge of the pot with a flat surface (ruler, book, etc.) and began my measurements according to that object's distance with the crevice of my plant. Everyday, I would try to place my plant in the same position so that I could record full measurements in relation to the sun. (Note: The text at the right of the graph says, "Distance from Pot to Tip of Leaf," and the pot has a diameter of about 8 cm).

The third graph shows little variation though it may seem as the opposite. Without the data, it seemed as though my plant was actually tilting farther away from the sun over time instead of tilting closer. However, my graph shows absolutely no linear or constant path. It does show a confusing slope pattern in which my plant seems to move back and forth over a certain period of time. A question I can't fully answer due to my uncertainties. I calculated the movement of my plant's one leaf with an uncertainty of 0.04 +/- which is fairly large. This trial was hard to measure correctly and so my uncertainty is therefore bigger than the others. Even with this large uncertainty, I was able to hypothesize a solution to it's movement. During my note-taking, I suspected that the plant's movement could have to do with its adaptations as a cactus with a sun-filled environment.

Reflection:
At the beginning of my recording, I was not expecting much, to tell you the truth. Since it was a cactus, I was expecting little growth in its weight, length or movement. However, I was surprised to see my interest grow as my predictions proved wrong. In all my measurements, there seemed to be a little twist, whether made by my uncertainties or simply the plant, which made me ask questions and hypothesize solutions or answers. From my third graph, the movement of the plant's leaf, I asked myself a question which I've already mentioned. Could the plant's strange movement have anything to do with its adaptations as a cactus which usually lives in a sun-filled environment? Could the graph's path show a relation to Shanghai weather with its pollution and drastic changes? The plant's movement was one thing I thought could be counted on to be constant or at least moderate average, nothing that would raise questions. So I was surprised to see such results which could point to either nothing or possible adaptations of the plant or maybe something else. Another question which was brought to my mind was that of the plant's growth in height. I had not thought of it before beginning my measurements but it is something that I feel is fairly reasonable and possible. I wondered if my plant's leaf could reach a climax in length and stop growing. Now that I think of it, it seems as though all plants stop growing at one point or another. But, after my plant reaches its climax, could it actually shrink? The idea of a plant shrinking seems somewhat hilarious to me, partly because I then thinking of people aging. However, it's possible that a plant is like a person when considering its growth; first it grows, stays constant and then steadily shrinks. This idea really captured my interest but I was unable to explore it more. Maybe some other time. :) Overall, I learned a few things from my plant and raised a few questions from the measurements which will enhance my exploration of learning and bring me to more experimenting.