Stage 3: Preliminary Experiment
Experiment 1
Variable:
Smell
Aim of the experiment:
To find out the mealworms’ reaction towards
the smell of vinegar.
Hypothesis:
The mealworms will move away from the
vinegar smell
Independent Variable:
The presence of the smell of vinegar
Constant/Controlled
Variables:
The type of plastic tube, the number of
mealworms, the type of mealworms (same species of mealworms etc.), the time
given to the mealworms in both set-ups to react to the smell of vinegar.
Dependent variable:
The mealworms’ reaction to the smell of
vinegar
Assumptions made:
All of the mealworms have the same reaction
to the smell of vinegar
Materials:
·
One clear plastic tube
·
One clear plastic tube with
vinegar infused cotton ball
·
A stopwatch
Procedures:
1.
Place 5 mealworms in each
plastic tube. Ensure that they are placed at the opening of the plastic tube.
2.
Close the cap and place the
plastic tube horizontally on the table
3.
Start the stopwatch and let it
run for 4 minutes.
4.
Observe the mealworms’ reaction
5.
Record the observation
Observation at the end
of experiment for all 3 trials:
The mealworms placed in the plastic tube
with vinegar move towards the cotton wool with vinegar infused in it at first.
However, they moved away from the smell of vinegar when they were nearer to the
cotton wool. However, those in the control set-up, did not move towards the
other end of the tube.
Conclusion:
The mealworms moved away from the smell of
vinegar.
Experiment 2
Variable:
Sound
Aim of the experiment:
To find out the mealworms’ reaction to the sound produced by
castanets.
Hypothesis:
The mealworms will move away from the sound.
Independent Variable:
The presence of sound produced by the castanets.
Constant/Controlled Variables:
The distance between the mealworms from the castanets (the producer
of the sound), the type of mealworms (same species of mealworms etc.)
Dependent variable:
The mealworms’ reaction to the sound produced by the castanets.
Assumptions made:
All the mealworms are not hearing impaired, they have the same
sensitivity to sound, they have the same reaction to any types of sound
produced.
Materials:
·
Stopwatch
·
Tuning fork and rubber bung
·
Castanets
(Chose either Tuning fork and rubber bung or castanets for experiment)
Procedures:
1.
Place 5 mealworms in one side
of a container.
2.
Position the castanets in the
air directly above the opposite side of the container.
3.
Observe the mealworms for 3 minutes to see if they
move towards the sound or away from the sound.
4.
Record the observation
Observation after 3 trials:
The mealworms moved away from the sound
produced by the castanets.
Conclusion:
The mealworms reacts to the sound by moving
away from the sound produced by the castanets.
Experiment 3
Expermiment 4
Variable:
Touch
Aim of the experiment:
To find out the mealworms’ reaction when they are being touched by a
soft brush and a disposable dropper.
Hypothesis:
The mealworms will move away when being touched.
Independent variable:
Touching the mealworms with a soft brush and a disposable dropper.
Constant / Controlled Variables:
The mealworms are touched at
the same spot (eg. the middle part of the body), the type of mealworms (same
species of mealworms etc.)
Dependent variable:
The mealworms’ reaction when they are touched by the soft brush and
the disposable dropper.
Assumptions made:
All the mealworms have the same sensitivity to touch
Materials:
·
Soft brush
·
Cotton bud
·
Disposable dropper
[chose any two in the
experiment design]
Procedures:
1.
Place 5 mealworms in a
container.
2.
Use the soft brush to gently
touch the middle part of the mealworms’ body.
3.
Observe the mealworms’ reaction
to the touch and record the observation.
4.
Repeat steps 1 to 3 but
instead, use a disposable dropper instead.
Observation after 3 trials:
When the mealworms were being touched by
the soft brush, they moved away from the brush. However, when the mealworms
were being touched by a disposable dropper, they wriggled and ‘jumped up’
instead.
Conclusion:
The mealworms react to touch and they react
more when they are being touched by a disposable dropper than the soft brush.
Variable:
Light
Materials:
·
Black box with small opening
·
Torchlight
·
Timer
Aim of the experiment:
To find out the mealworms’ reaction towards
the presence of light.
Hypothesis:
The mealworms will move away to the darker
area in the box
Independent Variable:
The presence of light
Constant / Controlled
Variables:
1)
Same type of mealworm eg. same species
2)
the container is to remain at the same place
throughout the entire experiment
3)
the bright and dark portion of the container must
be divided into equal half
4)
the ventilation is evenly distributed on both sides
of the container
5)
the food is evenly spread out over the entire
container
6)
there is no extra surrounding light penetrating
through the sides of the transparent plastic container to ensure a fair test.
Dependent variable:
The mealworms’ reaction to the presence of
light
Assumptions made:
All
of the mealworms are not visually impaired and have the same sensitivity to the
presence of light
Procedures:
1.
Place 5 mealworms in the box
and seal the box up.
2.
Place the mealworms in the
middle of the box.
3.
Shine the torchlight on half of
the box through the transparent opening.
4.
Observe the reaction of the
mealworms for 4 minutes. See if they move to the darker or brighter area of the
box.
5.
Record the observations.
Data collected:
Trials
|
Trials
1
|
Trials
2
|
Trials
3
|
Number of mealworms that moved to the
darker area (out of 5 mealworms)
|
3
|
4
|
3
|
Observation at the end
of experiment for all 3 trials:
As seen in the data tabulated in the table
above, in all 3 trials, majority of the mealworms moved to the darker area in
the box after 4 minutes.
Conclusion:
The mealworms react towards
the presence of light by moving towards the darker
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