Light is important for plants to grow. This experiment shows you how plants seek the light.
Things Required:
House plant
Directions:
Place the plant next to a window for three days. Rotate the plant 180° and allow it to stand for another three days.
This Is What Happens:
The leaves of the plant turn towards the window. Rotating the plant changes the direction of the leaves, but within three days they turn back towards the light.
Science Behind It:
Plants contain a chemical called auxin that promotes the lengthening of plant cells. A build-up of auxin occurs on the dark side of the plant stem. The extra auxin causes the cells on the dark side to grow longer forcing the stems to bend towards the light. This movement towards light is called phototropism. Photo means light and tropism means movement.
