======Observing Plant Transpiration======


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**Alternative titles:** Water Vapor from Leaves
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====Summary====                   
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====Procedure====  
  - Select a healthy, sunny outdoor plant with live leaves.  
  - Place a transparent plastic bag over a group of leaves and secure it tightly around the stem with a twist tie.  
  - Set up a control by securing another identical plastic bag around a pencil or stick.  
  - Place both setups in the same location with a “Do Not Disturb” sign.  
  - Leave the experiment undisturbed for about 30 minutes.  
  - Return and observe any condensation inside the bags. Record differences between the plant bag and the control bag.  
  - Discuss results and link observations to the process of transpiration.



====Links==== 
Water Collection: Transpiration Bag - Snow Walker Outdoors & Guide Service : 
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Get Drinking Water from a Tree - Transpiration Bag Survival Trick - Great Lakes Country: 
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📄 Transpiration Demo - NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory: [[https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/resources/lesson-plan/transpiration-demo/]]\\

====Variations====
  * Repeat the experiment on sunny and cloudy days to compare condensation levels.  
  * Try the experiment with different plant species to see which release more water vapor.  
  * Extend the time period (e.g., 1–2 days) to see greater accumulation of condensation.



====Safety Precautions====
  * Be cautious when selecting plants; avoid poisonous or allergenic species.  
  * Do not damage the plant while attaching the bag.  
  * Conduct the experiment in a safe outdoor area where the setup won’t be disturbed.




====Questions to Consider====
  * Where did the condensation inside the bag come from? (It came from water vapor released by the leaves.)  
  * Why was there little or no condensation in the control bag? (There was no living plant releasing water vapor.)  
  * What structures in the leaves release water vapor? (Stomata, tiny pores on the underside of leaves.)  
  * How is transpiration different from evaporation? (Transpiration is water loss through plants; evaporation is direct water loss from soil or surfaces.)  
  * Why is transpiration important for the water cycle? (It returns significant amounts of water to the atmosphere, contributing to cloud formation and rainfall.)  
  * What might happen to transpiration during drought? (Plants close stomata to conserve water, reducing transpiration and photosynthesis.)