Mealworm Experiment-Stage 2

TRIAL EXPERIMENT

"Do mealworms prefer bright or dark surfaces?"

Aim: To find out if mealworms prefer bright or dark surfaces.

Hypothesis:  Mealworms prefer darker surfaces to brighter surfaces.

Materials: Black box with small opening, torchlight, timer 

Procedures: 

1. Put the mealworms in the black box with small opening.
2. Shine light with the torch through the small opening.
3. After 5 minutes, observe and count the number of mealworms on the darker surface and the brighter surface.
4. The surface with more number of mealworms is the surface which the mealworms prefer.

Independent Variable: The presence of light on the surfaces

Dependent Variable: The number of mealworms on the surfaces.

Constant Variable: The type of box

Observation: There are more mealworms on the darker surface.

Table 3: Observation of Substance A, B, C, D and E on wet cotton wool

Table 3: Observation of Substance A, B, C, D and E on wet cotton wool

Substance	Changes observed after 10min	Changes observed after 24h	Changes observed after 36h	Inference/ Evidence of life
A	Substance remained grainy and brown.	Substance remained grainy and brown.	Substance still remained grainy and brownish.	No evidence of life.
B	Substance appears as creamy coloured liquid.	Substance appears as creamy coloured liquid.	Substance remains as creamy coloured liquid.	No evidence of life.
C	Substance expanded in size.	Substance appears even larger.	The size of the substance is the biggest among the three timings.	Living things grow.
D	Substance sprouted some yellow things.	More of the substance sprouted yellow things.	The yellow things turned green.	Living things grow.
E	Substance remained brown and powdery.	White things appeared in between the substance.	More white things appeared.	Living things respond to changes.

Substances A, B and C after 10min (clockwise from left)

Substance D after 10min

Substance E after 10min

Substances D and E after 10min (anti clockwise)

Substances A, B and C after 24hrs (clockwise from bottom)

Substance D after 24hrs

Substance E after 24 hours

Substance A, B and C after 36 hours (clockwise from bottom)

Substance B after 36 hours

Substance A after 36 hours

Substance C after 36 hours

Substance D after 36 hours

Substance E after 36 hours

Table 2: Observation of Substance A, B, C, D and E in glucose

Table  2: Observation of Substance A, B, C, D and E in glucose

Substance	Changes observed at 0min	Changes observed after 10min	Inference/ Evidence of life
A	·     Some substance sank to the bottom of the test tube and some dissolved. ·     Water turned murky.	·     Some substance sank to the bottom of the test tube and some dissolved. ·     Water turned murky.	No evidence of life.
B	·    Substance dissolved in the water. ·    Water turned milky.	·    Substance dissolved in the water. ·    Water turned milky.	No evidence of life.
C	·    Substance sank to the bottom of the test tube. ·    Water remained transparent.	·     Substance expanded in size. ·     Water remained transparent.	Living things grow.
D	·    Substance sank to the bottom of the test tube. ·    Water remained transparent.	·    Substance sprouted some yellow ·    Water remained transparent.	Living things grow.
E	·    Some substance sank, some in midair and some floated on the surface, creating a ring. ·    Water remained transparent.	·    Some substance sank, some in midair and some floated on the surface, creating a ring. ·    Water remained transparent.	No evidence of life.

 Substance A at 0min

                             

   Substances A and B at 0min (left to right)

               

   Substances C and D at 0min (left to right)

                 

   Substance E at  0min

                         

 Substances A, B and C after 10min (left to right)

             

Substances D and E after 10min (left to right)

                 

Table 1: Observation of Substance A, B, C, D and E in water

Table 1: Observation of Substance A, B, C, D and E in water

Substance	Physical Appearance	Changes observed at 0min	Changes observed after 10min	Inference/ Evidence of life
A	Grainy, sandy, brownish	·     Some substance sank to the bottom of the test tube and some dissolved. ·     Water turned murky.	·     Some substance sank to the bottom of the test tube and some dissolved. ·     Water turned murky.	No evidence of life.
B	Beige-coloured, cylinder-shaped	·    Substance dissolved in the water. ·    Water turned milky.	·    Substance dissolved in the water. ·    Water turned milky.	No evidence of life.
C	Transparent, round	·    Substance sank to the bottom of the test tube. ·    Water remained transparent.	·     Substance expanded in size. ·     Water remained transparent.	Living things grow.
D	Brown, round	·    Substance sank to the bottom of the test tube. ·    Water remained transparent.	·    Substance sprouted some yellow ·    Water remained transparent.	Living things grow.
E	Brown, powdery, sandy	·    Some substance sank, some in midair and some floated on the surface, creating a ring. ·    Water remained transparent.	·    Some substance sank, some in midair and some floated on the surface, creating a ring. ·    Water remained transparent.	No evidence of life.

 Substance D and E at 0min

                                 

  Substances A, B, C, D and E at 0min (left to right)

           

  Substances A, B, C and D at 0min (left to right)

             

Substance A at 0min

                             

Substances A,  B and C at 0min (left to right)

               

Substances A, B, C, D and E after 10min (left to right)

                                                             

 Substances A, B and C after 10min (left to right)

           

 Substances D and E after 10min (left to right)

             

Why were water, glucose and salt water chosen?

Why were water, glucose and salt water chosen?

Water- The organism might only move or breathe in water, so putting the organism into water is a good way to prove if it is alive.
Glucose- The organism might feed on the glucose and multiply, proving to be a living thing.
Salt water- The organism might only move or breathe in salt water.

Physical Appearance of Substances A, B, C, D and E

Physical Appearance of Substances A, B, C, D and E

A: Grainy, sandy, brownish

B: Beige-colored, cylinder shaped

C: Transparent, round

D: Brown, round

E: Brown, powdery, sandy