 Hypothesis
Purpose
Materials
Procedure
Results
Conclusion
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An apple in vinegar will rot faster and will decompose more than the apple in water, dirt or sand. The dirt will rot the apple quickly and it will significantly decompose, but not as quickly or as much as the apple in vinegar. The apple in the sand will decompose slowly and will rot very little. The apple in water will decompose the slowest and the least. |
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The purpose of this experiment is to see the effect different substances have on the decomposition of apples and which of these substances speed up the process of decomposition. |
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1. Cut each apple in half. 2. Fill each bag half full of vinegar, water, dirt and sand. 3. Place on half of an apple in each bag. 4. Close each bag. 5. Display the bags in an upright position. 6. Observe for 3 weeks. |
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All apples started fresh and crisp. The apple in vinegar turned from white to yellow to brown in color. The apple in the water turned brown and then started to mold and gradually became softer. The apple in the sand slowly started to decompose in the center and moved outward in the apple The apple in the dirt became soft and moldy and the dirt ate it away into practically nothing. The apple in water started to decompose first. Then the apple in the dirt began to decompose next, followed by the apple in the vinegar and finally the apple in the sand. But the apple in the dirt decomposed the most.
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Based on the experiment food wastes would probably decompose faster in water and dirt than in sand or vinegar. The vinegar would act as a preservative so the food waste would decompose at a slower rate. Food waste in sand would probably stay on top of the sand longer and that would slow down the decomposition of the food waste.
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Our Earth and Environment 1993 |
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