Search for Science Fair Projects

1000 Science Fair Projects with Complete Instructions

Global Warming Science Fair Project

Carbon Dioxide, Plant Growth, and the Greenhouse Effect

Medium
Carbon Dioxide, Plant Growth, and the Greenhouse Effect | Science Fair Projects | STEM Projects
What happens to a plant growing in air with extra carbon dioxide? CO2 is not a pollutant, but it traps heat. Scientists call this the greenhouse effect. Rising CO2 levels could change how crops grow worldwide. You germinate seeds in two peat cups with potting soil. One cup sits next to a dish of baking soda and vinegar. Mixing these two substances produces CO2. You cover both setups with large soda bottles and place them in a well-lit area. Only one bottle contains the CO2 source. The other is the control. Each day for five days you record plant growth and temperature inside each bottle. You also note any visible water vapor. Comparing the two setups shows how extra CO2 affects growth and temperature.

Hypothesis

The hypothesis is that increased carbon dioxide levels will have a positive effect on plant growth.

Method & Materials

You will germinate seeds in moist potting soil, create a chemical reaction to produce carbon dioxide, monitor the progress of the plant growth, water vapor, and temperature for one week, and compare the effects of CO2 to the control group.
You will need two large soda bottles with the top removed, two peat cups, a small cup or dish, several crop seeds, potting soil, 10 grams of baking soda, 20 ml of vinegar, and a thermometer.

Results

The experiment showed that increased carbon dioxide levels had a positive effect on plant growth. The most notable observation was that the plants in the CO2 system grew faster than the plants in the control group.

Why do this project?

This science project is interesting and unique because it shows how increased carbon dioxide levels can affect plant growth, and how this can contribute to global warming.

Also Consider

Consider experimenting with Elodea in a closed system such as a soda bottle with water. Try blowing into the container through a straw and compare the results to a sealed system.

Full project details

Additional information and source material for this project are available below.

Related video

These videos explain the science behind this project and demonstrate key concepts used in the experiment.
Share this Science Project:

Related Science Fair Project Ideas

Wet Monarchs in Cold Storage
Wet Monarch butterflies and place them in cold storage to find out how long they can survive the combination.
Medium
Surface Type and Greenhouse Heating
Place four sealed jars with different ground surfaces in the sun and track which one heats the trapped air fastest.
Medium
Carbon Dioxide and Seedling Growth
Trap a seedling with carbon dioxide inside a soda bottle, then see if it outgrows one in normal air.
Medium
Share this Science Project: