Question

Name Putting on Mass Homework The experiment that van Helmont performed in the 16h century was revolutionary and led to a greater understanding of plants and the world around us. However, while dispelling one misunderstanding about plant nutrition, van Helmont's experiment and his conelusions were flawed! Review his account of the experiment. took an earthen pot and in it placed 200 pounds of earth which had been dried out in the oven. This I moistened with rain water, and in it planted a shoot of willow which weighed five pounds. When five years had passed the tree which grew from it weighed 169 pounds and about three ounces. The earthen pot was wetted whenever it was necessary with rain or distilled water only. It was very large, and was sunk in the ground, and had a tin plated iron lid with many holes punched in it which covered the edge of the pot to keep air-borne dust from mixing with the earth. I did not keep track of the weight of the leaves which fell in each of the four autumns. Finally, I dried out the earth in the pot once more, and found the same 200 pounds, less about 2 ounces (199.9 pounds). Data: Write down the weights van Helmont measured: Initial weight of soil Final weight of soil Change in weight of soil Initial weight of plant Final weight of plant Change in weight of plant Restate in your OWN words the experiment by van Helmont. What question was van Helmont trying to answer? Independent variables Dependent variables Identify his conclusion Does his conclusion address his hypothesis? What would you say based upon these results as a conclusion? How reliable is his experiment? How would you change the experimental procedure?

Answer 1

The experiment of Ven Helmont

He took the plant seedling and pot. He measure the weight of pot and seedling separately. Then he planted the plant seedling in the pit and start watering them. After many years of watering them, he again weighted the plant and pot separately. The weight of the pot was same but the weight of the plant was incresesd. Therefore, he concluded that weight of the plant added from the water he added to the plant.

Independent variable : water given to the plant

Dependent variable : weight of the plant.

Conclusion: water is responsible for adding the weight of the plant.

No, his conclusion does not satisfy his hypothesis.

Plant weight is dependent on the photosynthesis reaction.

This experiment was very reliable