Australian International Academy

Kellyville Campus

Assessment Task Cover Sheet

Unit Name: Geared and Charged

Title: Investigation Report

Name: Nour Hussein

Year Level: 8 Subject: Science

Date: 3/4/19 Word Count: 1193 words

Assessment Task Cover Sheet 11/06/2019 V2

Aim: To investigate if the colour of light affect the growth of plants.

Hypothesis: If we give plants different colours of light then they will grow at different
rates.

Background research:
What I already know about this topic: Plants are known for producing their own food.
This process is called photosynthesis. During this process the plants rely on water and
sunlight for energy.

About different colours of light : The light spectrum has different colours, these colours
have different energy levels the reason for this is the colours in light have different
wavelengths and those wavelengths, depending on whether they are short or long,
provide different levels of energy. Wavelengths are the distance between the peak of the
wave to the end of it. Note that the electromagnetic waves vary in length from one end
of the spectrum to the other. For example, according to my research, if we use the colour
red or orange it would be more effective due to its high levels of energy. On the other
hand, using the colour purple would be least effective due to its long wavelengths and
emits less energy. Notice how both colours are opposite on the spectrum. Green is also
an ineffective colour, this is because there is already green pigments in the plant called
chlorophyll.

Difference of opinion: Upon researching I came across another website claiming that
purple or blue is a good colour to use since the colours blue and red are used in the plant
to reflect the colour green that’s why we see the colour green.

After acquiring all this data I have decided to test the theories of the colours red, blue,
green and purple since they difference of opinion and I will test it out myself

Light waves and electromagnetic waves:

Electromagnetic waves are formed once an electrical field comes in touch with
a magnetic field.

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Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Tracheobionta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Lamiales
Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Mentha L.
Species: Mentha aquatica L

Which Seeds to choose:

Through looking at the following photo we can gather that it is best to choose one of the
following plants to plant in summer of Sydney

Herbs Fruit and Vegetables

Plant basil Plant beans
Coriander Beetroot
Chives Cabbage
Oregano Capsicum
Parsley Carrot
Rosemary Cauliflower

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 Tarragon Cucumber
Thyme English spinach
Lemongrass Leek
Mint Lettuce
Onion
*refer to picture for more information*

What I chose and Why: I chose mint because of the weather in my area will be suitable.
Their will be sufficient rain and sunlight and mint require lots of moisture in the soil to
grow. I also grew them because according to my research they grow at a steady rate after
the roots have been established in the soil.

Risk Assessment:
Risk: Potential Hazard: Prevention:
Weather unprediction Experiment will be affected Check the weather
causing harm to by too much rain, high regularly and make sure
experiment winds etc. your plants are safe
Bugs and pests Plants being eaten by bugs Checking on your plants,
or pest changing the position if
needed
Plants not receiving enough The plant can die Adding water regularly and
water or sunlight checking if the positioning
has good enough sun

Variables:
Independent Dependent Controlled
Colour of paper The growth of the plant Soil, plant type, amount of
water, amount of light,
positioning, pot size, soil
amount

Materials: 4 pots, 4 colours of cellophane paper, seed (mint), water, enough sunlight,
soil, sticky tape, scissors

Method:
1. Fill the pots with soil equally.
2. Dig a small hole in the soil, place your seeds inside and cover with more soil.
3. Wrap the pot with your cellophane paper and sticky tape it in position.
4. Using scissors of a pen, poke some holes so you can water the plant later
5. Place your pots in a sunny spot and water regularly, keeping the soil moist.

Assessment Task Cover Sheet 11/06/2019 V2

Results Table:
Growth of Coloured Plants
12

10
Length of plant (cm)

0
Day 1 Day 5 Day 10 Day 15 Day 20 Day 25 Day 30 Day 35
Amount of Days

Blue Red Green Purple

Growth in ( cm)

Day 1 Day 5 Day 10 Day 15 Day 20 Day 25 Day 30 Day 35

(cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm) (cm)
Green 0 0.4 1.5 2.2 3.6 4.7 5.5 6
cellophane
plant
Blue 0 0.2 0.5 0.8 1.4 1.9 2.5 3.9
cellophane
Plant
Purple 0 0.2 0.8 1 2.2 3 3.5 4.6
cellophane
Plant
Red 0 0.6 2.5 4.2 5.1 6.2 7 10
cellophane
Plant

Reflecting on Data: I think there was a point in the graph were the plant measurements
they were highly effected. This was the period of rain that we had over the time of this
experiment and as mentioned before mint need lots of water, so this was beneficial to
the mint. Which was around the 15th day of this experiment and ended at about the 30th
day of this experiment ( if you refer to the graph you can actually see there were dents
and then a significant line going upwards until day 30).

Assessment Task Cover Sheet 11/06/2019 V2

 Growth of Coloured Plants
12

10 In this area
Length of plant (cm)

between the lines

8 were there was
6 most growth for all
the plants but the
4 red one
2 surprisingly went a
lot higher between
0
the last 5 days
Day 1 Day 5 Day 10 Day 15 Day 20 Day 25 Day 30 Day 35
Amount of Days

Blue Red Green Purple

Timeline: 3/4/19 Day 40:

14/2/19Day 20: 24/3/19 Day 30:
22/2/19 Day 1: 4/3/19 Day 10: -Measure and -Write conclusion
-Planting and -Measure and record
-Measure plants record data and check all
organising the data
- Start recording - Finish of work
mint - half way through
data and logbook details - logbook taken
- start the organising it the SRP and check it photos of and
process and layout the -Log book added onto
(watering, tables and information is added managebac
positioning) etc. graphs (PMI and diagrams) - submit work
early

27/2/19 Day 5: 9/3/19 Day 15: 19/2/19 Day 25: 29/3/19 Day 35:
-14/2/19 -Start -Record -record and -Record and
DAY measuring measurements measure plant measure plants
HANDED - Start working - fill in data and - add to - create the graph
OUT on SRP log book information and - Finish up
background (decorate, log book ( more everything and
research content page and pictures, calendar insert all the data/
basic and diagrams) pictures and final
information) information

Assessment Task Cover Sheet 11/06/2019 V2

Images:

Assessment Task Cover Sheet 11/06/2019 V2

Discussion: The results went as we had expected before. The red covered plant had
grown the most and the Blue one grew the least. Other than this I think It was a
successful experiment and it presented important information. I would like to improve on
next time by rapping the cellophane differently as it ripped once ( refer to photos of you
would like to see) but I replaced it immediately. Next time I could try the experiment
again but by changing the dependent variable by testing out the growth in different areas
like shad and sun or to even different amounts of water. This information is helpful
because we can learn a lot from it, we can understand a lot about the light spectrum and
how different wavelengths emit different amounts of light and let it pass through.

Conclusion: Through this experiment, we investigated that giving plants different colours
of light will impact the growth rate. The fastest growing plant was the plant covered in
red cellophane and the slowest growing plant is the one covered in Blue cellophane.

Discussion of conclusion: In the following experiment it shows the growth rate of mint
when it is covered with coloured cellophane. The effect of light is presented by the
difference in growth. The red covered plant grew the most out of all and the Blue
covered one grew the least. I think this is because (as I have mentioned before
conducting this experiment) that it is because of the electromagnetic waves and the
colour on the colour spectrum. Red is on one side of the spectrum whilst blue and purple
are on the opposite sides and are supposed to emit less light and blocks the light from
entering to the plant.

References: 1. https://sensing.konicaminolta.us/blog/can-colored-lights-affect-how-
plants-grow/
2. https://www.searlesgardening.com.au/gardening-and-planting-calendar-australian-
climates-summer-herb-vegetables-fruit

Reflection: I think this experiment went well and I learnt a lot while researching for it. It
helped me understand the effect of the colour on the amount of light a plant can receive.
I could improve by wrapping the paper differently and I could next time try this
experiment with a different plant.

Assessment Task Cover Sheet 11/06/2019 V2