Gravitropism Flashcards

1️⃣ Familiarise yourself with the flashcards:

  • Look through all the flashcards to see what's on both sides.
  • Make sure you understand the information on each card. If something's unclear, click the link to the revision notes at the bottom of the page for more details.

2️⃣ Test yourself:

  • Look at the question or prompt on each card and try to remember the answer before flipping it over.
  • Check the answer and make a note of any cards you find challenging and need to go over more.

3️⃣ Consistently Review and Practice:

  • Use spaced repetition: spend more time on the cards you struggle with and go over them more often.
  • Regularly review all the flashcards to help you better understand and retain the information over time.

Note: We may include questions that have multiple correct answers. It's useful to remember specific examples to understand these concepts better.

PERSONALISED 1-TO-1 TUTORING

Need more help on this topic? Get 1-to-1 support

Get support with clear explanations, practice and feedback (Ages 5 to 16).

  • DBS-checked tutors
  • Flexible times
  • Parents can be updated
Book a free 10-min call See pricing

Want an ad-free experience? Subscribe to remove ads

What is gravitropism in plants?

Gravitropism is a type of plant growth. The plant grows in a certain way because of gravity.

How do roots usually respond to gravity?

Roots grow in the same direction as gravity. This is called positive gravitropism.

How do shoots usually respond to gravity?

Shoots grow in the opposite direction to gravity. This is called negative gravitropism.

Why is positive gravitropism in roots helpful to a plant?

It helps roots grow down to reach water and minerals. It also helps fix the plant firmly in the soil.

Why is negative gravitropism in shoots helpful to a plant?

It helps shoots grow upwards, lifting leaves and flowers into the air. This makes it easier for the plant to get light and to spread seeds or pollen.

In a horizontal shoot, where does most auxin collect because of gravity?

Most auxin moves to the lower side of the shoot. This makes the auxin level higher on the bottom than on the top.

How does uneven auxin in a shoot make it bend upwards in gravitropism?

Auxin on the lower side of the shoot makes those cells grow longer. The bottom side grows more than the top, so the shoot bends upwards.

How does uneven auxin in a root make it bend downwards in gravitropism?

In roots, extra auxin on the lower side slows cell growth. The upper side grows more, so the root bends down towards gravity.

Describe a simple experiment that shows gravitropism in young plants.

Place damp seeds in a dish and lay them on their sides in the dark. After a few days, the roots will grow downwards and the shoots will grow upwards, showing gravitropism.

What do the words 'positive' and 'negative' mean in gravitropism?

'Positive' means the plant part grows towards the pull of gravity. 'Negative' means it grows away from the pull of gravity.

Previous Topic
Back to Lesson
Next Topic