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Unit 1: Exercise 1.4 Plants in Space - Extension

Plants are grown in enclosed containers on the International Space Station to investigate how they grow without gravity. Water and nutrients are directly pumped to the plant roots since water droplets float away without gravity. When there is no gravity, plant roots and shoots grow randomly in all directions. To simulate gravity, some plants are spun gently in a centrifuge. Experiments test different soil types, with small, dense particles best for allowing air to the roots. Plants grown include wheat, strawberries, and mizuna.

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79 views

Unit 1: Exercise 1.4 Plants in Space - Extension

Plants are grown in enclosed containers on the International Space Station to investigate how they grow without gravity. Water and nutrients are directly pumped to the plant roots since water droplets float away without gravity. When there is no gravity, plant roots and shoots grow randomly in all directions. To simulate gravity, some plants are spun gently in a centrifuge. Experiments test different soil types, with small, dense particles best for allowing air to the roots. Plants grown include wheat, strawberries, and mizuna.

Uploaded by

Paintntyx.
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Unit 1 Plants

Exercise 1.4 Plants in space – Extension


You will need to use both your own knowledge and the information in the box
to answer these questions. Some of the questions will make you think back to
topics that you learnt about last year – gravity and soil.

Read the information, and then answer the questions that follow.

The International Space Station has been orbiting the Earth since the year
2000. More than 200 astronauts, from many different countries, have worked
on the Space Station.
Some of the astronauts carry out experiments to investigate how plants grow
in space. The plants are grown in small, enclosed, transparent containers.
They are given artificial light. Air and water are pumped around their roots.
The experiments show that, when there is no gravity at all, the plant roots and
shoots grow randomly in all directions. So some of the plants are spun gently
in a machine called a centrifuge. This produces a force to which the plants
respond just as they would respond to gravity.
One experiment has tested how the plants grow in different kinds of soils. If a
soil has very large particles, the water in it escapes easily. The water forms little
droplets and floats away into the air. If the particles in the soil are very small,
then air does not flow through it easily and the roots don’t get enough oxygen
to survive.
The plants grown in the Space Station include dwarf wheat, strawberries and
mizuna. If humans ever travel to Mars, they will need plants to provide them
with oxygen and food. The experiments also show that the astronauts enjoy
growing the plants.

1 Suggest why the plants in the Space Station are grown in enclosed containers.

the
Because plants given artificial light , Air and water are
………………………………………………………………………………………

pumped around the roots of plant


………………………………………………………………………………………
2 Suggest why water has to be pumped directly to the plant roots, rather than just
poured into the container from a watering can.

there 're
gravity in space If i pour water the water will float up
………………………………………………………………………………………
because no . .

………………………………………………………………………………………

1 1 Plants
Unit 1 Plants

3 a Explain why the roots of a plant grow in all directions if there is no gravity.

Roots doesn't need gravity to Orient their


……………………………………………………………………………………… directional shewing and the .

root seed
………………………………………………………………………………………
grow up by
a .

b Describe how this problem has been solved in the Space Station.
Cause suspicion of scientists
………………………………………………………………………………………
by the .

………………………………………………………………………………………
4 Explain why a sandy soil would not be a good choice for growing plants in the
Space Station. (Use what you know about soils, and also the information on
page 13, to help you write your answer.)

Because the sandy soil doesn't


……………………………………………………………………………………… use much water and it's have .
a

gravity so it's grow up slowly


……………………………………………………………………………………… .

………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………
5 Describe three reasons why it would be useful for astronauts travelling on a
long journey to grow plants in their spaceship.
To answer the problem that plant can
first reason ……………………………………………………………………… grow up in space .

…………………………………………………………………………………

They enjoy to grow plants in the space station


second reason …………………………………………………………………… .

…………………………………………………………………………………
It's can be consumed as food I provide
third reason ……………………………………………………………………… refreshing
a

atmosphere
…………………………………………………………………………………
.

1 Plants 14

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