Abstract for Science Fair: Germinating Radiated Seeds

This science fair project was directed towards looking at whether or not magnetic fields have an effect on the germination and short-term growth of radish seeds. The limited resources currently available for this particular topic show positive signs as their result. First, I located and retrieved 5 different sizes of magnets (see Materials for specifications). I decided that this was a large enough number of varying sizes and then proceeded to place each magnet (S side up to eliminate any questions), in its own individual planting basin. I covered each magnet with dirt, and followed the remaining directions for planting the seeds in the soil. Upon finishing this task, I watered each plant, keeping the amount of water constant, and continued to do so once a day, for 10 days (this is the short-term growth part). Each day, I measured the tallest plant in each pot, making note of which seeds germinated first. Upon completion of the 10-day period, I began a new trial. I continued this process for 4 trials until my experiment was complete. Upon carefully analyzing the data, it appears as though the magnets had no affect on the germination and short-term growth of radish seeds, except in the case of the extra large magnet trials. The seeds in the plant basins containing the extra large magnets, I have determined, germinated as normal along with the control seeds, but upon germinating, grew substantially faster than the control, and upon completion of the 10-day period, yielded more growth than the control. On this basis, I have determined that magnetic fields (if strong enough), do in fact affect the short-term growth of radish seeds.

As shown on the graphs, and from the data table, the plant basins that contained the extra-large magnets in the bottom of them showed that they generally tend to germinate at about the same time as the control plants. However, the XL magnet plants, in the majority of the trials, grew faster, and overall, taller, than the control plants. Throughout the four trials, the planting basins containing the small magnets had a tendency to germinate later than the control, but still managed to grow fast, and even taller than the control plants in most cases. For the rest of the magnets, the seeds in their basins generally tended to germinate at about the same time as the control, and grow to about the same height as the control plants. In conclusion, the XL magnets that I tested did not commonly speed the rate of germination of the radish seeds, although they did have a positive effect on the growth and overall height of the plants in those particular basins, compared to the control. If the magnet is big enough (in this case, XL; see Materials above for details), then its magnetic field can positively affect the short-term growth of radish seeds.

Other posts on germinating radiated seeds:

Abstract for Science Fair: Germinating Radiated Seeds
The Research Paper: Grand Summary
Materials for Science Fair: Germinating Radiated Seeds
Science Fair: Germinating Radiated Seeds
Hypothesis for Science Fair: Germinating Radiated Seeds
Plan for Science Fair Project: Germinating Radiated Seeds
Procedure for Science Fair: Germinating Radiated Seeds
Procedure for Germinating Radiated Seeds... An Experiment
More of tracking progress in germinating radiated seeds
More of tracking progress in germinating radiated seeds - 3
Some History on the Experiment
A Conclusion to my Experiment about Germinating Radiated Seeds
Works Cited List for Science Fair Project: Germinating Radiated Seeds
Works Cited List for Science
Works Cited List for Science Fair: Germinating Radiated Seeds