The purpose of this simple experiment is to observe a plant winding its way towards light.
Things Required:
Shoebox with a lid
Paper cup
Three pinto beans
Potting soil
Cardboard
Scissors
Tape
Directions:
Fill the cup with potting soil. Plant the beans in the soil. Moisten the soil and allow the beans to sprout (about 5 to 7 days). Cut two cardboard pieces to fit inside the shoebox. Secure the cardboard with tape to form a maze. Cut a hole in the lid. Place the bean plant inside the shoebox at one end. Secure the box lid with the hole on the opposite end from the plant. Open the lid daily to observe the growth of the plants. Water the soil when needed.
Continue to observe until the plant grows out the hole in the lid.
This Is What Happens:
The plant winds around the obstacles and out the hole in the lid.
Science Behind It:
The plant is growing towards the light. This movement towards light is called phototropism. A build-up of auxin, a plant growth chemical, occurs on the dark side of the stem. Auxin causes cells to grow longer on the dark side. This forces the stem to bend towards light.
