Scientists for NASA are working on a portable farming system for future missions. It was observed, if the roots are completely submerged in water, or over-watered, the plants tended to die. What would be a simple experiment to examine this hypothesis?

Question

a
Over-water a group of plants and compare it to one plant that is watered normally.
b
Over-water a group of plants and compare it to an equal group of plants that are watered normally.
c
Over-water another plant and see if it dies.
d
Don't over-water a group of plants and see if they live.

Answer 1

The best option to examine the hypothesis that over-watering can lead to plant death is:

b. Over-water a group of plants and compare it to an equal group of plants that are watered normally.

This approach allows for a controlled comparison between two groups of plants (over-watered vs. normally watered), making it possible to draw conclusions about the effects of over-watering on plant health. It also establishes a clear experimental design with a control group, which is essential for valid scientific experimentation.