Claudia is performing an experiment, testing to see if decreasing the temperature in which pea plants are growing makes them flower sooner. In this experiment, what are some values that Claudia will want to hold constant. (Choose all that apply)

Question

the temperature the plants are grown in

the amount of water the plants get

the type and amount of fertilizer used

which day the plants begin to flower

the amount of light the plants get

Answer 1

In Claudia's experiment, to accurately test the effect of decreasing temperature on when pea plants flower, she will want to hold several factors constant to ensure that any changes in flowering time can be attributed solely to the temperature change. The values she should hold constant include:

1. The amount of water the plants get - This ensures that all plants have the same water availability, which can influence growth and flowering time.

2. The type and amount of fertilizer used - Different types or amounts of fertilizer can affect plant growth and flowering, so this should be kept constant.

3. The amount of light the plants get - Light is crucial for photosynthesis and plant growth; varying light conditions could confound the results.

The other options, “the temperature the plants are grown in” and “which day the plants begin to flower,” are not something she would hold constant, as she is specifically testing the effects of different temperatures on flowering time.