Bart conducts an experiment to test if microwaving mice makes them stronger, comparing results with a control group.
Bart Simpson experiment about microwaves and mice strength
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Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: Simpsons Use the Scientific Method - Michele Shaw | Library ...
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Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: Simpsons Use the Scientific Method - Michele Shaw | Library ...
Let’s go step by step through each experiment and answer the questions clearly.
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Bart’s Mouse Experiment
11. Control Group: The group that did NOT get microwaved — the 10 mice that were not exposed to microwaves.
→ *Why?* This is the “normal” group we compare against to see if the microwave made a difference.
12. Independent Variable: Whether or not the mice were exposed to microwaves.
→ *Why?* This is what Bart changed on purpose — he chose which mice got microwaved.
13. Dependent Variable: How many mice could push the block away (their strength).
→ *Why?* This is what Bart measured to see if the microwave had an effect.
14. What should Bart’s conclusion be?
He found that 8 out of 10 microwaved mice pushed the block, and 7 out of 10 non-microwaved mice also pushed it. That’s only a tiny difference — just one more mouse in the microwaved group. So, his conclusion should be:
→ *Microwaving mice probably doesn’t make them much stronger.* The results are too close to say for sure.
15. How could Bart’s experiment be improved?
- Use more mice (like 50 per group) so small differences don’t matter as much.
- Make sure all mice are the same age, size, and health before starting.
- Test them multiple times to see if the result is consistent.
- Maybe measure how hard they push, not just yes/no.
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Krusty’s Itching Powder Experiment
16. Control Group: Subject A — the one sprinkled with the original itching powder.
→ *Why?* This is the “usual” product Krusty compares the new one against.
17. Independent Variable: Which type of itching powder was used (original vs. experimental).
→ *Why?* Krusty chose which powder to use on each subject.
18. Dependent Variable: How long the itch lasted (in minutes).
→ *Why?* This is what Krusty measured to see if the new powder worked better.
19. Does the data support the ad’s claim?
The ad says the new powder causes “50% longer lasting itches.”
Original powder = 30 minutes.
50% longer would be 30 + 15 = 45 minutes.
Subject B (new powder) itched for 45 minutes — exactly 50% longer!
→ *Yes, this one test supports the claim.* But… it’s only ONE person. We’d need more tests to be sure.
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Lisa’s Hair Growth Project
20. Describe how Lisa would perform this experiment. Identify control group, independent and dependent variables.
Lisa wants to know: Does Rogooti affect hair growth speed?
Here’s how she can do it:
- She picks family members who volunteer. Let’s say she has 6 volunteers.
- She splits them into two groups:
- Group 1 (Experimental): Uses Rogooti every day for 4 weeks.
- Group 2 (Control): Uses their normal shampoo (no Rogooti) every day for 4 weeks.
- Before starting, she measures everyone’s hair length at the same spot (like from scalp to tip on the top of the head).
- After 4 weeks, she measures again.
- She calculates how much each person’s hair grew (final length – starting length).
- Then she compares the average growth in Group 1 vs. Group 2.
→ Control Group: The group using their normal shampoo (no Rogooti).
→ Independent Variable: Whether they used Rogooti or not.
→ Dependent Variable: How much their hair grew (in cm or inches).
She should also try to keep other things the same — like diet, sleep, and not cutting hair during the test — so those don’t mess up the results.
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Final Answer:
11. Control Group: The 10 mice NOT exposed to microwaves
12. Independent Variable: Exposure to microwaves (yes or no)
13. Dependent Variable: Number of mice able to push the block away
14. Conclusion: Microwaving likely does not make mice significantly stronger — the difference is very small (8 vs 7).
15. Improvement: Use more mice, ensure mice are similar, repeat trials, measure force not just success/failure
16. Control Group: Subject A (used original itching powder)
17. Independent Variable: Type of itching powder (original vs. experimental)
18. Dependent Variable: Duration of itch (minutes)
19. Data supports claim? Yes — 45 min is exactly 50% longer than 30 min, but only tested on one person
20. Lisa’s experiment: Split volunteers into two groups — one uses Rogooti, one uses regular shampoo. Measure hair length before and after 4 weeks. Compare growth.
- Control Group: Those using regular shampoo
- Independent Variable: Use of Rogooti (yes/no)
- Dependent Variable: Amount of hair growth (cm/inches)
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Bart’s Mouse Experiment
11. Control Group: The group that did NOT get microwaved — the 10 mice that were not exposed to microwaves.
→ *Why?* This is the “normal” group we compare against to see if the microwave made a difference.
12. Independent Variable: Whether or not the mice were exposed to microwaves.
→ *Why?* This is what Bart changed on purpose — he chose which mice got microwaved.
13. Dependent Variable: How many mice could push the block away (their strength).
→ *Why?* This is what Bart measured to see if the microwave had an effect.
14. What should Bart’s conclusion be?
He found that 8 out of 10 microwaved mice pushed the block, and 7 out of 10 non-microwaved mice also pushed it. That’s only a tiny difference — just one more mouse in the microwaved group. So, his conclusion should be:
→ *Microwaving mice probably doesn’t make them much stronger.* The results are too close to say for sure.
15. How could Bart’s experiment be improved?
- Use more mice (like 50 per group) so small differences don’t matter as much.
- Make sure all mice are the same age, size, and health before starting.
- Test them multiple times to see if the result is consistent.
- Maybe measure how hard they push, not just yes/no.
---
Krusty’s Itching Powder Experiment
16. Control Group: Subject A — the one sprinkled with the original itching powder.
→ *Why?* This is the “usual” product Krusty compares the new one against.
17. Independent Variable: Which type of itching powder was used (original vs. experimental).
→ *Why?* Krusty chose which powder to use on each subject.
18. Dependent Variable: How long the itch lasted (in minutes).
→ *Why?* This is what Krusty measured to see if the new powder worked better.
19. Does the data support the ad’s claim?
The ad says the new powder causes “50% longer lasting itches.”
Original powder = 30 minutes.
50% longer would be 30 + 15 = 45 minutes.
Subject B (new powder) itched for 45 minutes — exactly 50% longer!
→ *Yes, this one test supports the claim.* But… it’s only ONE person. We’d need more tests to be sure.
---
Lisa’s Hair Growth Project
20. Describe how Lisa would perform this experiment. Identify control group, independent and dependent variables.
Lisa wants to know: Does Rogooti affect hair growth speed?
Here’s how she can do it:
- She picks family members who volunteer. Let’s say she has 6 volunteers.
- She splits them into two groups:
- Group 1 (Experimental): Uses Rogooti every day for 4 weeks.
- Group 2 (Control): Uses their normal shampoo (no Rogooti) every day for 4 weeks.
- Before starting, she measures everyone’s hair length at the same spot (like from scalp to tip on the top of the head).
- After 4 weeks, she measures again.
- She calculates how much each person’s hair grew (final length – starting length).
- Then she compares the average growth in Group 1 vs. Group 2.
→ Control Group: The group using their normal shampoo (no Rogooti).
→ Independent Variable: Whether they used Rogooti or not.
→ Dependent Variable: How much their hair grew (in cm or inches).
She should also try to keep other things the same — like diet, sleep, and not cutting hair during the test — so those don’t mess up the results.
---
Final Answer:
11. Control Group: The 10 mice NOT exposed to microwaves
12. Independent Variable: Exposure to microwaves (yes or no)
13. Dependent Variable: Number of mice able to push the block away
14. Conclusion: Microwaving likely does not make mice significantly stronger — the difference is very small (8 vs 7).
15. Improvement: Use more mice, ensure mice are similar, repeat trials, measure force not just success/failure
16. Control Group: Subject A (used original itching powder)
17. Independent Variable: Type of itching powder (original vs. experimental)
18. Dependent Variable: Duration of itch (minutes)
19. Data supports claim? Yes — 45 min is exactly 50% longer than 30 min, but only tested on one person
20. Lisa’s experiment: Split volunteers into two groups — one uses Rogooti, one uses regular shampoo. Measure hair length before and after 4 weeks. Compare growth.
- Control Group: Those using regular shampoo
- Independent Variable: Use of Rogooti (yes/no)
- Dependent Variable: Amount of hair growth (cm/inches)
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of simpson science worksheet answers.
