Reflect And Grow

• databot

• IOS/Android Smart Device

Investigations

Life Science

Overview

Background

What You Will Need/Prep

• Test your databot™ connection.

• You will be prompted to select
  and connect to databot™ each
  time you launch an experiment.

• If there are two or more
  databot™'s listed, the one
  closest to your device will be
  highlighted in blue.

Reflect and Grow

Have you ever wondered how soil moisture and leaf
cleanliness impact plant growth? In this lesson, you
will explore how water absorption affects light
reflection and how dust on leaves influences the
amount of light plants receive.

• Install Vizeey™ on your
  Smart device.

• Study the background
  information and terms and
  prepare to explore!

Grades: Middle School

Time: 45 Minutes

Subject: Life Science

Topics: Light, Light Intensity, Light
Reflection, Light Absorption

Light is one of the most important factors in plant
growth. Through photosynthesis, plants convert light
energy into chemical energy, producing the nutrients
they need to survive. The amount of light a plant
receives depends on various factors, including light
intensity, reflection, and absorption by surrounding
surfaces.

Soil moisture plays a crucial role in light reflection. Dry
soil reflects more light, while wet soil absorbs more,
affecting the light available to nearby plants. This can
influence soil temperature, evaporation rates, and
overall plant health.

Leaf cleanliness also impacts light absorption. Dust and
dirt on leaves can block incoming light, reducing the
efficiency of photosynthesis. In natural and urban
environments, air pollution and dust accumulation can
limit plant growth by decreasing the amount of usable
light.

Understanding how light interacts with soil and leaves
helps scientists and farmers optimize growing
conditions for plants. By studying these factors, we can
improve agricultural efficiency, greenhouse design, and
environmental sustainability.

• A potted plant with large leaves.

• Paper box, light source

• Small container for soil +
  different types of soil + water

• Fine powders for dust simulation
  + damp cleaning cloth

• Tripod

Using databot™, you will measure light intensity, analyze
reflection patterns, and discover the connection
between soil moisture, leaf cleanliness, and plant
health.

Learning Objectives

By completing this lab, students will:

• Understand how soil moisture affects light reflection and absorption.

• Investigate how dust accumulation on leaves impacts light availability for
  photosynthesis.

• Measure and analyze light intensity using databot™ under different soil and leaf
  conditions.

• Develop critical thinking and data analysis skills by comparing experimental results.

• Explore the relationship between light reflection, plant health, and environmental
  conditions.

Photosynthesis – The process by which plants use light, carbon dioxide, and water to
produce energy (glucose) and release oxygen.

Light Reflection – The process of light bouncing off a surface instead of being absorbed.

Light Absorption – The process of light being taken in by a surface, such as soil or plant
leaves.

Soil Moisture – The amount of water present in the soil, affecting its ability to reflect or
absorb light.

Leaf Cleanliness – The presence or absence of dust and debris on leaves, which can
impact the amount of light they receive.

Light Intensity – The amount of light energy reaching a surface, measured in lux.

Evaporation – The process by which water turns into vapor, influenced by soil moisture and
temperature.

Plant Health – The overall condition of a plant, influenced by its ability to absorb light,
water, and nutrients efficiently.

NASA studies light reflection for plant growth in space: scientists analyze how different
materials and moisture levels affect light absorption to develop efficient plant growth
systems for future space missions.

Greenhouses optimize light absorption: in controlled environments, greenhouses use
reflective surfaces and clean glass panels to ensure plants receive the right amount of light
for growth.

Interesting Facts

Life Science

• By default you will be in Pan and zoom mode which allows you to move the data side
  from side to side with your finger or pinch to zoom in or out.

• To see the values at any point of the graph, you first need to press the “Pick data”
  button.

Graph showing the
Illuminance

In order to work with the experiment you need to launch
the Vizeey application and click on + in the upper right
corner.

Then select “Add experiment from QR code” and scan the
QR code prepared for this experiment. Your experiment will
appear in the list.

Using Vizeey

When you start the experiment you will be immediately
offered to connect to your databot. Make sure that databot
is turned on and in Vizeey mode with a blue blinking light.

Illuminance value in
real-time.

This lab work investigates the Illuminance
sensor

• Click on any point on the chart to see the values.

To explore the chart, you can use the extended version.

Life Science

Part 1: Initial Observations and Discussion Questions

How do plants naturally keep their leaves clean in the wild?
_______________________________________________________________________________________

How could cleaning plant leaves improve their health and growth?

Before conducting the experiment, think about what results you expect. Consider the
following questions to help you form your hypothesis:

1. How do you think soil moisture affects light reflection?

“I think that dry soil will reflect _________________________________________________________

because ______________________________________________________________________________

2. What do you expect to happen when dust covers the leaves?

“I predict that dusty leaves will receive _________________________________________________

because ______________________________________________________________________________

Life Science

Experiment Purpose and Goal

Required Components

• Paper box (with a lid that
  closes securely)

• Databot with light sensor

• Light source

• Small container for soil

• Water

• Different types of soil

Preparation Before the Experiment:

1. Use a paper box that can be securely
   closed to prevent any light from entering.

2. Make two holes in the top of the box.

3. One hole should be large enough to fit
   databot.

4. The other hole should fit the light source
   (e.g., flashlight or lamp).

5. Place a small container inside the box and
   fill it with sand.

6. Fix the light source so that it stands still
   and shines into the box.

7. Position and fix databot so that its
   sensors point into the box.

The aim of this experiment is to explore how the
moisture content in soil affects the reflection of light.
By measuring the change in reflected light (lux) as the
soil becomes wetter, you can observe the impact of
water content on light reflection. The experiment also
compares how different soil types, such as sand and
clay, influence light reflection.

Databot has several operating modes, so make sure that when you turn it on, the
sensors are facing up, and only then turn it over.

Experiment:

• Tap on "Reflect and Grow" in Vizeey to load the experiment.

• You will be prompted to connect to databot.

  • Hint- if there is more than one databot in use, the one closest to you will be in blue!

  • A solid blue light on databot means you are connected.

Life Science

Part 3: Experiment Procedure

• Start your experiment using:

  • Use these icons at the top of the screen in Vizeey to start and to pause the
    experiment.

• Turn on the light and shine it on the sand.

• Record the level of reflected light (lux) that the databot
  light sensor detected.

• Pour a small amount of water onto the sand. Use one of
  the following ways:

• • You can open the box, pour water and close the box
    again. Then measure the value of the reflected light.
    The key point is that the amount of light remains
    constant and databot stays in its position.

  • Make an extra hole in the lid and pour water with a
    tube, in this case it is better to use an opaque tube so
    that the light does not get inside the box.

• Measure and record the change in the level of reflected light.

• Add more water to fully saturate the soil.

• Measure and record the reflected light one final time.

• Remove the sand from the container and replace it with a different type of soil (such as
  black soil or clay).

• Follow the same steps as before, measuring the reflected light with the new soil.

• Compare the results with those from the sand experiment to observe how different
  types of soil reflect light differently.

Life Science

Experiment:

• Tap on "Reflect and Grow" in Vizeey to load the experiment.

• You will be prompted to connect to databot.

  • Hint- if there is more than one databot in use, the one closest to you will be in blue!

  • A solid blue light on databot means you are connected.

Part 3: Experiment Procedure

How Does Dust on Leaves Affect Light Absorption

Required Components

• Databot™

• Light source

• Plant with broad leaves

• Stand or clamp

• Fine powders for dust
  simulation

• Soft brush or sponge (to
  distribute the dust evenly)

• Damp cleaning cloth

Preparation Before the Experiment:

• Choose a plant with large, smooth leaves to ensure uniform dust coverage.

• Secure databot™ on a stand or clamp as close as possible to the underside of the leaf.

• Position the light source so that it shines directly onto the top of the leaf.

• Ensure that all equipment is stable and does not move during the experiment.

Since plants rely on light for photosynthesis, any
obstruction can reduce their ability to produce energy.
By testing different types of dust, we will analyze how
much light is blocked and whether cleaning the leaves
restores their ability to absorb light effectively.
Understanding this process is important for plant
care, especially in urban environments where dust
and pollution are common.

• Turn on databot™ and launch the Vizeey™ app.

Life Science

• Start your experiment using:

  • Use these icons at the top of the screen in Vizeey to start and to pause the
    experiment.

• Direct the light onto the leaf and measure the light intensity.

• Record the data in a table as the baseline measurement.

• Sprinkle a small amount of flour, talc, or chalk dust evenly across the leaf surface.

• Repeat the light measurement with databot™ and record the results.

• Observe how the amount of light reaching databot™ changes.

Cleaning the Leaf and Retesting:

• Use a damp cloth to carefully wipe the dust off the leaf.

• Measure the light intensity again and record the results.

• Compare the data before and after cleaning.

Repeating with Different Dust Types:

• Repeat the experiment with different powders (flour, talc, chalk dust).

• Record how each type of dust affects light absorption.

Сreate a histogram of the obtained values

Life Science

1. Were your initial predictions about dust and light absorption correct?

Why or why not? What surprised you the most about the experiment results?

Part 6: Reflection

2. Were your predictions about soil moisture and light reflection correct?

Why or why not? What surprised you the most about the results?

Life Science