Teaching Variables - The Simpsons

Name: ______________________________________ Date: ___________________
Living Environment
The Simpsons – Identifying the Controls and Variables
Experiment 1 Smithers thinks that a special juice will increase the

productivity of workers. He creates two groups of 50 workers each and assigns each group the
same task (in this case, they're supposed to staple a set of papers). Group A is given the special
juice to drink while they work. Group B is not given the special juice. After an hour, Smithers
counts how many stacks of papers each group has made. Group A made 1,587 stacks, Group B
made 2,113 stacks.
Answer:
1. Which is the control group?
_________________________________________________
2. Which is the experimental group? ____________________________________________
3. Identify the independent variable. ___________________________________________
4. Identify the dependent variable. ____________________________________________
5. Given the experimental design, what should Smithers' conclusion be? __________________
_______________________________________________________________________
6. How do you think the experiment could be improved? ______________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
Experiment 2 Homer notices that his shower is covered in a strange green

slime. His friend Barney tells him that coconut juice will get rid of the green slime. Homer
decides to check this out by spraying half of the shower with coconut juice. He sprays the
other half of the shower with water. After 3 days of "treatment" there is no change in the
appearance of the green slime on either side of the shower.
Answer:
1. What hypothesis is Homer trying to test? ______________________________________
2. What is Homer's conclusion?
________________________________________________
3. What is the control group? _________________________________________________
4. What is the experimental group? ____________________________________________
5. What is the independent variable? ___________________________________________
6. What is the dependent variable? _____________________________________________
Experiment 3 Bart believes that mice exposed to microwaves will become extra
strong (maybe he's been reading too much Radioactive Man). He decides to perform this
experiment by placing 10 mice in a microwave for 10 seconds. He compared these 10 mice to
another 10 mice that had not been exposed. His test consisted of a heavy block of wood that
blocked the mouse food. He found that 9 out of 10 of the microwaved mice were able to push
the block away. 6 out of 10 of the non-microwaved mice were able to do the same.
Answer:
1. What is the control group? _________________________________________________
2. What is the experimental group? ____________________________________________
3. What is the independent variable? ___________________________________________
4. What is the dependent variable? _____________________________________________
5. What should Bart's conclusion be? ___________________________________________
6. How could Bart's experiment be improved? _____________________________________
Experiment 4 Krusty was told that a certain itching powder was the newest best
thing on the market. It even claims to cause 50% longer lasting itches. Interested in this
product, he buys the itching powder and compares it to his usual product. One test subject (A)
is sprinkled with the original itching powder, and another test subject (B) was sprinkled with
the Experimental itching powder. Subject A reported having itches for 30 minutes. Subject B
itches for 15 min.
Answer:
1. What is the control group? Subject A
_______________________________________________
2. What is the experimental group? Subject B
3. What is the independent variable?
____powder_______________________________________
4. What is the dependent variable? _________time of
itching____________________________________
5. Does the data support the advertisements claims about its product? Why or why not? False.
It only itches 50% shorter. _______________________________________
Experiment 5 Lisa is working on a science project. Her task is to answer the

question: "Does Rogooti (which is a commercial hair product) affect the speed of hair growth"?
Her family is willing to volunteer for the experiment.
Answer:
1. Describe how Lisa would perform this experiment.
(She could test a person in the family's hair growth over certain period of time without Rogooti
and another time with Rogooti.)
Identify the control group,(Those not using the Rogooti.) and the independent(Whether they
use Rogooti or not) and dependent variables(speed of hair growth) in your description.
2. Identify the hypothesis in this experiment.

If she uses the hair product her hair may grow faster.
3. State a conclusion to support your hypothesis.
The hair product increases the speed at which your hair grows.
4. State a conclusion that refutes the hypothesis.
The hair product decreases the speed of the hair growth.
OR
The hair product has no effect on the speed of your hair growth.

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Name: ____________________ Date: _

The Simpsons – Identifying the Controls and Variables

Experiment 1 Smithers thinks that a special juice will increase the

Experiment 2 Homer notices that his shower is covered in a strange green

Experiment 5 Lisa is working on a science project. Her task is to answer the

2. Identify the hypothesis in this experiment.

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