Scientific Method and Simpsons Variables

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering experimental variables from the Simpsons worksheet activity, controlled experiment concepts, and scientific method principles.

Control Group (Smithers Experiment)

Group B, which was not given the special juice.

Independent Variable (Smithers Experiment)

The special juice given to the workers.

Dependent Variable (Smithers Experiment)

The number of stacks of papers stapled by each group after an hour.

Smithers' Conclusion

The special juice had a negative impact on productivity, as Group A made 1,587 stacks while Group B made 2,113 stacks.

Smithers' Experimental Improvement

Changing the amount of juice given to both groups.

Initial Observation (Homer Experiment)

Homer noticed his shower/bathtub was covered in a strange green slime.

Control Group (Homer Experiment)

The side of the shower sprayed with water.

Independent Variable (Homer Experiment)

The substance sprayed on the shower (coconut juice vs. water).

Dependent Variable (Homer Experiment)

The appearance of the green slime or the amount of slime left.

Homer's Conclusion

Neither coconut juice nor water will clean off the green slime stuck in his bathtub.

Control Group (Bart Experiment)

The 10 non-microwaved mice that were not exposed to microwaves.

Independent Variable (Bart Experiment)

Exposure to microwaves (amount of time in the microwave).

Dependent Variable (Bart Experiment)

The strength of the mice, measured by whether or how much they moved the heavy block of wood.

Bart's Conclusion

Microwaving the mice did not have much of an effect on the mice's strength (8 out of 10 microwaved mice vs. 7 out of 10 non-microwaved mice pushed the block).

Bart's Experimental Improvement

Making the block heavier so an average mouse could not push it away, ensuring that if microwaved mice pushed it away, they were 100% stronger.

Control Group (Krusty Experiment)

Subject A, who was sprinkled with the original itching powder.

Independent Variable (Krusty Experiment)

The type of powder used (original itching powder vs. experimental itching powder).

Dependent Variable (Krusty Experiment)

The length of time the subject experienced itching.

Independent Variable (IV)

The variable in a controlled experiment that is intentionally changed or manipulated by the experimenter.

Dependent Variable (DV)

The variable in an experiment that is measured or observed, which changes in response to the independent variable.

Control Group

The baseline group in an experiment that does not receive the experimental variable and is used for comparison.

Experimental Group

The group in an experiment that receives the variable or treatment being tested.

Constants

Conditions or factors that are kept identical across all test groups in an experiment.

Kingdom Animalia

A kingdom of organisms characterized as multicellular, eukaryotic, lacking a cell wall, heterotrophic, and motile at some point in their life cycle.

Scientific Method Flowchart

A process starting with Observation, forming an 'if… then' Hypothesis, running a Controlled Experiment, and either modifying a rejected hypothesis or retesting and verifying a supported hypothesis to build a Scientific Theory.