How Does Microwave Radiation Affect Plant Growth

and Development?Erin Chandler

9th Grade

Problem

• How does different amounts of radiation affect growth?

• Is it true that radiation can cause mutations and complications?

Research• Radiation is energy that comes from a source and travels through space and may

be able to penetrate many materials

• The four main types of radiation are alpha radiation, gamma radiaton, beta radiation, and x radiation

• Alpha radiation cannot penetrate human skin but is still harmful

• Beta radiation is moderately penetrating and can cause skin problems

• Gamma radiation and X radiation are x-rays and can penetrate easily and can be extremely harmful (this is the kind of radiation in microwaves and used in my experiment)

• Radiation and genetic mutations

• Certain amounts=different affects?

• Standing in front of a microwave myth or fact?

• Cancer radiation can affect growth hormones

• Not only radiation but inhaling radiation can cause cancer.

• More radiation can cause more problems.

Hypothesis

• If the seed is microwaved for a longer amount of time, then it will cause more damage to the seed.

• Supported by the idea that radiation will kill the seed more with more exposure to the radiation.

Materials

• 4 lima bean seeds

• 1 microwave oven

• four 5 cm by 5 cm containers (height:7.6 cm)

• water

• 236 ml of dirt per container

Procedure

• Control: plant not microwaved

• Manipulative: amount of exposure to microwave radiation

• Responding: results of growth and development of seeds

• Microwaved plant A: 0 seconds B: 5 seconds C: 10 seconds D: 20 seconds

• All were placed by a window and watered once daily

Results

• trial 1: growth of plant B on day 7, plant A on day 10, and plant C no growth

• trial 2: growth of plant B on day 7, plant A on day 11, and plant C on day 11

• trial 3: growth of plant B on day 7, plant A on day 9, and plant C on day 11

• Plant D had no growth through all 3 trials

Data

Conclusion• If the seed is microwaved for a longer amount of time, then it will cause

more damage to the seed.

• Supported by my research that radiation caused problems, complications, and kills growth hormones

• The experiment shows that plant B (5 seconds) had just enough radiation for something to happen in the seed that caused the seed to grow extremely fast

• Plant B grew almost twice as fast as plant A (0 seconds)

• Improvements: could have done it in a plastic bag with water to see full growth.

• Advancements: could have taken it further and microwaved seeds for longer amounts of time to make my results more accurate

• Problems: plant C did not grow at all in trial 1

Thanks

• Bleifield, Maurice. Botany Projects for Young Scientists. Maurice Bleifield: n.p., 1992. Print.

• Bugsby, Bruce. "Biological Effects of Radiation." Health Physics Society. HPS, 19 May 2009. Web. 8 Nov. 2009. <http://www.hps.org/publicinformation/ate/q1280.html>.

• Martinez, Alfonzo Balmori. "The Effects of Microwaves on Trees and Other

•      Plants." boomaantastingen. N.p., Dec. 2003. Web. 8 Nov. 2009. <http://www.boomaantastingen.nl/onderzoek_bomen_planten.pdf>.

• O'Leary, Nancy. "Does Microwave Radiation Affect Seed Growth?" infoplease. N.p.,

•      8 Nov. 2009. Web. 8 Nov. 2009. <http://www.infoplease.com/cig/science-fair-projects/does-microwave-radiation-affect-seed-growth.html>.

• Tocci, Salvatore. Plant Projects for Young Scientists. N.p.: Franklin Watts,  2000. Print.