Variable: Sound
Aim: The aim of the experiment is to find out whether high-pitched or low-pitched sound affects the mealworms’ movement.
Hypothesis: The mealworms behave differently when exposed to
high-pitched sounds.
Independent variable: the pitch of the sound that the mealworms are exposed to.
Controlled variables: Temperature of the surroundings, noise level in the background,
the presence of wind, the amount of light the mealworms are exposed to and the
distance between the sources of the sound and the mealworms.
Dependent variable: Speed and direction in which the mealworms move
Assumptions made: None of the mealworms are hearing impaired and all of
them have the same sensitivity to the sounds produced.
Materials/Apparatus:
- 2 mealworms [ One in its early larval stage: Mealworm A, One in its late larval stage: Mealworm B ]
- Castanet
- Tambourine
- Rubber bung
Procedure:
Step 1: Hold the castanet 3 cm away from the top of the open box, containing the mealworms.
Step 2: Make sounds with the castanet for 1 minute and observe the mealworms while the sound is produced and subsequently observe the mealworms for the next 30 seconds after the sound has been stopped.
Step 3: Write down observations.
Step 4: Repeat Steps 1, 2 and 3 with a tambourine and rubber bung.
Results:
Mealworm A
|
Mealworm B
|
|
Rubber Bung
|
Moves very slowly throughout and does not
go in any particular direction
|
Moves at a fast paces and goes in a
circular motion around the box
|
Castanet
|
Moves very slowly throughout and does not
go in any particular direction
|
Moves at a fast paces and goes in a
circular motion around the box
|
Tambourine
|
Moves very slowly throughout and does not
go in any particular direction
|
After 45 seconds, the mealworm lifted its
head up towards the sound source until the sound stopped.
|
Tambourine & Castanet
|
Moves very slowly throughout and does not
go in any particular direction
|
Stopped moving after 40 seconds and
remained like that until it was stimulated with touch
|
Data analysis:
Mealworm A probably did not react to any of the sounds because it had not developed its sense of hearing yet. As for Mealworm B, it did not react to the sounds made by the rubber bung and the castanet probably because these were low-pitched sounds. However, it behaved differently when exposed to the sound of the tambourine alone and the tambourine and castanet together. Since the tambourine produces a high-pitched sound, perhaps the mealworm only reacted to the sounds with elements of high pitch.
Conclusion:
Mealworms' movement is affected when exposed to high-pitched sounds.
Mealworm A probably did not react to any of the sounds because it had not developed its sense of hearing yet. As for Mealworm B, it did not react to the sounds made by the rubber bung and the castanet probably because these were low-pitched sounds. However, it behaved differently when exposed to the sound of the tambourine alone and the tambourine and castanet together. Since the tambourine produces a high-pitched sound, perhaps the mealworm only reacted to the sounds with elements of high pitch.
Conclusion:
Mealworms' movement is affected when exposed to high-pitched sounds.
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