1.

In a lab practice, a group

of second year of high school has completed a
experiment to demonstrate that light is
necessary in the process of photosynthesis.
To achieve this, he has made two setups like the ones

what the drawings show. The only

difference, since it has been monitored that the
the rest of the conditions were the same, has
I say that one of them has been enlightened.
continuously for over an hour (the
marked with the letter A) and the other has
maintained, during the same period, to
dark (the one marked with the letter B).

a) Observe the assembly A. Why do you think

what can help to demonstrate that the light
Is it necessary for photosynthesis? Relate your explanation to the general equation of photosynthesis.
and explain how the gas that accumulates in the upper part of tube A is generated.

If the aquatic plant has been exposed to light and has the necessary substrates
to carry out photosynthesis (carbon dioxide and water), it will have synthesized organic matter and
oxygen. Given the setup, this gas has been accumulating and has formed a small volume of
gas at the top of the test tube. The accumulated gas, oxygen, comes from photolysis
of the water that occurs in the light phase of photosynthesis.

b) A student from the group, upon observing the small accumulation of gas in the test tube of setup B,
has stated: "The plant has performed photosynthesis in the dark!" However, the rest of the colleagues have
they have tried to convince that the experiment had yielded the expected result.
Why do you think this student made the previous statement?
Why do the other colleagues believe that the experiment has yielded the result?
expected?

The student confuses the gas accumulated in the setup that has been in the dark with the one that
it accumulates in the illuminated setup. He thinks that the gas observed in setup B comes from
of photosynthesis, but this is not the case, since this plant does not carry out photosynthesis. The gas accumulated in
this assembly that has been kept in the dark not oxygen, but carbon dioxide, and comes from the
breathing and not of photosynthesis.

What is the independent variable of the experiment?

The independent variable is the lighting (presence or absence of light) and the variable
dependent is the photosynthetic activity, which is measured through the gas accumulated in the tube of
essay.

d) What is the control of the experiment? What is the purpose of having a control in experiments?

Considering that it is an experiment with light / without light, the setup without light will act as
control of the experiment. This is so because the absence of light is the only difference between the
conditions to which the two installations have been subjected.

The existence of a control in an experiment serves to ensure that the changes

experienced by the dependent variable come from the changes induced in the variable
dependent and not on other causes or factors.
CATALONIA JUN’07
A high school student, in a research project, has posed the following question: "What about
Starting from the same initial group of seeds and after several generations, it is possible to obtain plants.
capable of germinating in conditions of water scarcity and plants capable of germinating in conditions
of abundance of water?

When presenting this question to the classmates, there were several opinions and controversies.
We transcribe a fragment of one of the discussions:

A. It is evident that it can be obtained. Organisms change according to the circumstances they face.
to live: either they adapt or they die. Surely some plants become capable of germinating in these
conditions.
B. Among the seeds of the initial group there must be genetic variability for the conditions of
germination. Depending on the environmental conditions, different phenotypes will be favored.
We have multiple terrariums like the one shown in the drawing, which contain enough
pots with the necessary substrate for germination. Additionally, the terrariums have devices for
regular the environmental conditions. Also
we have an abundant number of seeds.

a) Argue your position in relation to each one

of the opinions present in the fragment
from the discussion.

A. Yes, it can be done, but not because the

organisms change. The organisms
they have a certain capacity for adaptation,
although this is limited to some
characteristics that are not inheritable. The
expression 'either they adapt or they die'
as a driver of change and subsequent adaptation is not true.

B. Yes, adaptation does exist, but of populations, not of organisms.

they adapt due to the selective effect of the environment on the genetic variability shown by the
populations.

b) Design an experimentation process to try to find out if the germination of the

Seeds depend on soil moisture. The design needs to specify what the variables will be.
dependent and independent, as well as the control of the experiment.

Experiment: Does soil moisture affect seed germination?

Independent variable: Soil moisture

Dependent variable: Seed germination (both in time and in number of
seeds)

Design: We can establish three guidelines:

- Fijar tres posibles grados de humedad de la tierra de las macetas: baja, media y alta.
- In a terrarium, we keep several pots with low soil moisture.
- In another terrarium, we keep several pots with medium soil moisture.
- Finally, in a third terrarium, we keep the soil moisture high.

Control: There are several options, or we can observe the number of seeds that have germinated in
each of the conditions at a given time, or we can calculate the time that
They take longer to germinate a certain number of seeds.
CATALONIA JUN'06
 3. The so-called juvenile hormone
participates in the regulation of development
of the insects.

The attached graph shows the relationship

between the concentration of juvenile hormone
in the body of the insect and the transition
among the various stages of development
in the silk moth, Bombyx mori.

An experiment is to be designed to
study the validity of the following hypothesis: "Perhaps an increase in the number of daily hours of light
make the state of the chrysalis shorter.

To conduct this experiment, we have a large number of chrysalises and several terrariums with
dimmable lighting systems (from 0 to 24 hours of light per day, as needed). Others
devices allow control of other environmental variables such as temperature, humidity
environmental, etc. Design an experiment to test the validity of this hypothesis. Your design lacks
what signals, what will be the dependent and independent variables, as well as the control of
experiment.

- Hypothesis: Perhaps an increase in the amount of daily sunlight hours shortens the state.
from the chrysalis.

- Independent variable: the amount of daily sunlight hours.

- Dependent variable: the duration of the pupal state (i.e., the time).

- Control: The variation of the independent variable from 0 to 24. For example, we have
seven terrariums, the first with 0 hours of light, the second with 4 hours, the third with 8 hours, the
fourth with 12 hours, the fifth with 16 hours, the sixth 20 hours and the seventh and last 24 hours.

The rest of the variables (for example, temperature or ambient humidity) remain fixed.
for all terrariums at 28 ºC and 70% relative humidity.

- Experiment design:

A high number of chrysalises will be used in each terrarium, for example, ten; it is
say, we are going to use replicas or repetitiveness.

In each of the terrariums, we regulate the lighting system to adjust it to 0 hours in.
the first one, 4 hours in the second...

We ensure that the ambient temperature and humidity are constant for the
seven terrariums. Of course, we also make sure to have ten chrysalises in each one.
of the terrariums.

The end of the design concludes with the verification of the duration of the chrysalis state in
each individual from each of the terrariums.

CATALONIA JUN'06
4. In an experiment, two pots of certain plant species are placed, which we will call
A and B, in the same room and initially having the same height. For seven weeks, it is watered,
at the same time, plant A with 50 ml of water and plant B with 100 ml of water. After seven
Weeks have the following data:

a) What are the dependent variable and the

Week Height of floor A independent variable of the experiment?
(time) (cm) (cm)
0 10 10 The dependent variable is the height that
1 11 12 reaches the plant and the independent variable
2 12.5 13.4 it is the amount of water with which it is irrigated
3 13 14.2 plant.
4 14 15.4
5 15 16
6 15.5 16.8
7 16 17.4 b) What are the controlled variables?

The controlled variables are the light that

they receive, the temperature and the nutrients.

c) What hypothesis is intended to be tested with the experience?

The hypothesis would be: "If we provide different amounts of water to different plants, the
growth of these in height will be different.

d) Represent the data in a graph and draw conclusions.

As the graph shows, the amount of water used to irrigate a plant affects the
growth of the same. We can observe that starting both from the same height in the
week 0, plant A (which is watered with 50 ml) reaches throughout each of the seven
weeks of experimentation, shorter height than plant B, watered with 100 ml.

e) What mathematical formula relates both variables?

There should be a formula that relates the height reached by the plant with the amount of water.
of irrigation and the time elapsed.

f) What law can we deduce from experience?

The law could state: "The amount of water used to irrigate a plant affects its growth."
in height of the same in a directly proportional manner.
5. In a high school research project, a student has thought that they could determine if the
caffeine has mutagenic effects on the vinegar fly (Drosophila melanogaster).

Specifically, he wants to study what dosage of caffeine the flies should ingest for the offspring.
present alterations in the body.

In order to determine the mutagenic effects, an experiment has been prepared in which he has:
A large population of flies.
Food that contains caffeine in different doses (low, medium, high) and food without caffeine.
Glass containers to hold the flies and all the necessary equipment to facilitate the
reproduction of flies.
Binocular magnifier for observing the body characteristics of flies.
Bibliography with images and descriptions of the body characters of Drosophila
melanogaster.

a)State in the form of a question the problem that is to be solved in this search.

Several options can be offered:

- Does the amount of caffeine present in food influence the alterations present in the
body of the descent?
- Is there any type of relationship between the amount of caffeine consumed and the mutations that occur?
are present in the body of the offspring?

Señala las variables independiente

-Independent variable: amount of caffeine. The scientist (or experimenter) modifies

directly the values of this variable.
alterations or mutations in the offspring's body.
values experience changes after modifying the values of the independent variable.

c) Design an experiment to determine what dose of caffeine should be ingested by the flies.
so that the offspring show alterations in the body. Clearly specify the idea of
experiment control.

Several groups of flies (with males and females) are raised with food that
contains different doses of caffeine (low, medium, and high). It is necessary to carry out for each group
several replicas.

2. Also create at least one group of flies with food without caffeine.

The control of the experiment focuses on the fact that the dose of caffeine is varied in the
food and in the presence of a caffeine-free group.

3. Ensure that the rest of the conditions (or variables) that may affect the occurrence
mutations in the offspring remain at the same values in all groups
of the flies from the experiment.

4. Analyze the descent and observe the presence of alterations in the body. Determine
In which of the different groups is there a higher incidence of bodily alterations?
in order to quantify the results and be able to relate them to the different doses of caffeine.
In short, to evaluate the variations of the independent variable.

CATALONIA JUN'06
6. In a bean crop, an experiment has been conducted to verify that deficiencies (scarcity
in the culture medium) in phosphorus and nitrogen disturb plant growth and cause
alterations in the leaves. It has been monitored that in all groups of plants used, the conditions
they were the same except for the type of growth substrate.

Type of growing substrate Results

Substrate with normal requirements of
Normal growth, well-developed leaves
phosphorus and nitrogen
Slower growth, color changes and the
Substrate with deficiency of phosphorus and nitrogen
shape of the leaves

These are some of the possible conclusions of the experiment:

Phosphorus and nitrogen are necessary for both the normal growth of the plant and for the
formation of well-developed leaves.

a) Criticisms have been made of the experiment's design that invalidate the conclusions. A colleague has
argued: "Perhaps the cause of the outcome is exclusively the scarcity of phosphorus." Do you think
What is this criticism based on? Explain it.

- The criticism is correct if what the student argues is true and the results are
compatible with your hypothesis.
- The criticism is grounded because the experiment, as presented, does not allow
to know what the result of growth would be in an environment where only it is lacking
the match.

b) Design an experiment to test the validity of the previous criticism.

1. Prepare different groups of plants and grow them in two different substrates:
- Normal requirements for nitrogen and phosphorus.
- Normal nitrogen requirements with phosphorus deficiency.
2. Ensure that, in all groups of plants used, the rest of the conditions that may
influence the growth and the shape and color of the leaves to be the same.
3. Analyze in the different groups whether plant growth is normal, as well as the
presence of alterations in the leaves and determine in which substrates there is a
greater incidence of alterations in the growth and development of the leaves.

CATALONIA SEP'05

Indicate whether the following statements about the scientific method are true or false:
a)Their laws are always rejected if the facts contradict what they [Link]
b)Use mathematics as a tool to see the relationship between the [Link]
c)The analysis of the results obtained in an experiment leads to the elaboration of a
[Link], since the analysis of the results leads to the extraction of
conclusions and this may be enough to accept or reject a hypothesis. For
formulation of a hypothesis, information gathering, observation and
formulation of questions.
d)Scientific knowledge is always subject to [Link]
e)The design of experiments, in order to be reliable, must ensure that its results depend
from a large number of [Link], since the design of experiments must ensure
that their results depend solely on a single variable.
f)When the hypotheses they have been repeatedly verified by observation and the
experimentation, the formulation of theories [Link]