Microwaves are used on a daily basis across the country. Their main purpose is to heat up food. However, have you ever wondered if they could be used in other ways? In order for radish seeds to sprout, the outer coating must be opened up (Radiant Radish Seeds). When planted under direct sunlight, radish seeds use the sun’s energy known as ultraviolet radiation to open the outside coating to allow water to get to the embryo and the process of germination to begin. Ultraviolet radiation is a type of electromagnetic radiation. Various household appliances, such as microwaves, use electromagnetic radiation to heat up food. By applying heat from a microwave to radish seeds, will microwaves help or hinder the germination of radish seeds?
Hypothesis and Null Hypothesis
If I microwave a radish seed for exactly fifteen seconds, then the seed will germinate and grow more than the other seeds not microwaved. If I microwave radish seeds for 15 seconds, then the seeds will not germinate and grow more than the non-microwaved seeds.
Materials
The materials needed for this experiment are listed below.
1) 20 radish seeds
2) 4 cups of cool soil
3) 2 …show more content…
Set on set of 10 radish seeds to the side. These will not be microwaved and will be planted later. Take 2 medium sized pots and with a permanent marker, label on outside “microwaved” on one pot and “NOT microwaved” on the other pot. Next, measure out 2 cool cups of soil and place in the microwaved labeled pot (How to Grow Radishes from Seed). Repeat for the other pot. Take the other set of 10 radish seeds and line them up on an uncovered microwave safe dish and place in the microwave. Microwave on high power of 10 for 15 seconds. After microwaving, remove the seeds and plant into the pot labeled “microwaved”. Plant the non microwaved radish seeds in the “NOT microwaved” labeled pot. Wait 3-7 days for germination (Radishes). Then measure using metric units. Record