A simple experiment on living and non-living things

Simple experiments on living and non-living things

Experiment 1: Investigating excretion in plants

Aim: To show that plants excrete water vapour through leaves.

Materials:

1. A plant with leaves
2. A string or rubber band
3. A transparent plastic bag

Procedure:

1. Wrap a plant leaf (or leaves) in a transparent plastic bag. Do not detach the leaf from the plant.
2. Tie the plastic bag with a string or rubber band to make sure air does not pass.
   1. Note: Ensure the plastic bag is not torn.
3. Leave the setup for two hours.
4. Observe what happens after the set time.

Results:

• After two hours, you should notice condensation (small water droplets) inside the plastic bag.

Conclusion:

• Plants excrete water vapour through their leaves, a process known as transpiration.

Experiment 2: Investigating the differences between living and non-living things

Aim: To show that living things move and respond to stimuli, while non-living things do not move or respond.

Materials:

1. Two jars with small holed lids
2. A stone
3. A stick
4. An alive cockroach

Procedure:

1. Put the stone in one jar and the cockroach in another jar.
2. Cover both jars with their lids.
3. Place both jars on a table.
4. Use a stick to touch the cockroach and the stone through the opening of the jar.
5. Observe what happens in each jar.

Results:

1. The cockroach will move in response to being touched (stimulus).
2. The stone will remain stationary, showing no movement or response to the stimulus.

Conclusion:

• Living things like the cockroach move and respond to stimuli, while non-living things like the stone do not.

Experiment 3: Investigating the importance of oxygen to animals

Aim: To demonstrate that oxygen is essential for animals.

Materials:

1. Two alive grasshoppers
2. Two jars
3. A lid
4. A net
5. Fresh leaves

Procedure:

1. Label one jar as A and the other as B.
2. Place fresh leaves in both jars.
3. Put the first grasshopper in jar A and cover it with a net.
4. Put the second grasshopper in jar B and cover it with an airtight lid.
5. Observe the two grasshoppers in the jars after two days.

Results:

1. The grasshopper in jar A (which has access to oxygen) will remain alive.
2. The grasshopper in jar B (which has no oxygen) will likely die due to lack of air.

Conclusion:

• Oxygen is essential for the survival of animals, as seen in the difference between the two grasshoppers.