Author: Knipp, Catherine

How Sunlight Affects Color Change and Falling Rate in Leaves

Olivia Cohen, Catherine Knipp, and Keziah Palmer

How does the amount of sunlight affect the rate of leaves changing color and falling on a sugar maple tree?

Conclusion
The season impacted displayed variables in a positive and negative way.
The season impacted the variables by coming to the conclusion for the amount of the leaves fallen not having a negative slope.
Many of the observations did not make sense because some of the data for one graph wasn’t realistic. Some of the variables data didn’t make sense with the season change.
This data is not reliable for the near future. It doesn’t provide accurate data and it will not allow accurate data for the future. This data is not helpful nor is it reproducible for the future because it is not reliable or accurate.

Methods
When planning how to collect the data, the entire group considered the type of tree that would be used, how many trees would be used, and how the leaves should be counted.
This information was important to consider because it was essential in being consistent when collecting the data.
It was necessary to know what type of tree that was being used because different trees could result in different data.
To begin collecting data, three different branches on The Sugar Maple Tree was marked to indicate what data was to be collected
A ribbon was tied to indicate where on the branch the leaves would be counted.
Then calculations were performed based upon the number of leaves on each branch and the number of colored leaves were up to the ribbons to get the initial numbers (a leaf was colored if at least 50% of it was not green).
After that, each time data was collected, number of leaves were counted and subtracted from the last time to see how many leaves had fallen since the last time data was collected
Finally the group counted the number of leaves that were colored on the tree and added that to the number of leaves fallen, while still assuming that all leaves had fallen were colored.

Data Analysis
For the graph that shows the rate of leaves changing color, less leaves change color with more sunlight. For the graph that shows the data for the rate of leaves falling, data shows that more leaves fall with more sunlight.
The data on the graph of leaves color change makes sense, but the fallen rate does not because logically, more leaves should fall with a decrease in sunlight.
There is a more appropriate way to graph the data because the graph for the amount of the leaves fallen should have a negative slope.
Model Analysis
Program was used to model given data by the usage of the equations observed from the fathom program to see the predicted amount of leaves colored and fallen for a specific amount of daylight
Daylight can be adjusted by using the slider, also shows the specific amount of leaves colored and fallen
This program was a good predictor for our data because, it allows us to predict any amount of time without having to physically collect the data. The only piece that doesn’t make since about our program is that, the leaves fallen is predicted to be higher when there is more sunlight. So this means as the slider is moved up, the rate in which, leaves fallen goes up as well.

Future Work
It differed from the other class because they used one branch on three different trees to collect the data
Data could have been collected more reliable/ reasonable by being more aware of how it was decided to calculate collected data