This document provides examples of applying the scientific method to different scenarios. It includes summaries of experiments on the effects of a special juice on worker productivity, coconut juice on removing green slime, microwaves on mouse strength, a new itching powder, and a hair growth product. For each, it identifies the control group, independent variable, dependent variable, constants, and concludes whether the results support the initial hypotheses.
This document provides examples of applying the scientific method to different scenarios. It includes summaries of experiments on the effects of a special juice on worker productivity, coconut juice on removing green slime, microwaves on mouse strength, a new itching powder, and a hair growth product. For each, it identifies the control group, independent variable, dependent variable, constants, and concludes whether the results support the initial hypotheses.
This document provides examples of applying the scientific method to different scenarios. It includes summaries of experiments on the effects of a special juice on worker productivity, coconut juice on removing green slime, microwaves on mouse strength, a new itching powder, and a hair growth product. For each, it identifies the control group, independent variable, dependent variable, constants, and concludes whether the results support the initial hypotheses.
This document provides examples of applying the scientific method to different scenarios. It includes summaries of experiments on the effects of a special juice on worker productivity, coconut juice on removing green slime, microwaves on mouse strength, a new itching powder, and a hair growth product. For each, it identifies the control group, independent variable, dependent variable, constants, and concludes whether the results support the initial hypotheses.
Read the following scenarios and answer the questions based on the scientific method.
Smithers believes 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.
Identify the: 1.) Control Group- Group B
2.) Independent Variable- special juice
3.) Dependent Variable- # of stacks (or workers productivity)
4.) Constants- 50 workers each group, same task, same amount of time
5.) What should Smithers’ conclusion be? The special juice doesn’t improve workers productivity
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 plain water. After 3 days of "treatment" there is no change in the appearance of the green slime on either side of the shower.
6.) What was Homer’s initial (first) observation? There was a strange green slime in the shower
7.) Control Group- The ½ of the shower sprayed with plain water
8.) Independent Variable- the coconut juice
9.) Dependent Variable- the amount of slime
10.) Constants- 3 days of treatment, the shower was split in half
11.) What should Homer’s conclusion be? Coconut juice doesn’t improve green slime
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 next to 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 8 out of 10 microwaved mice were able to push the block away. 7 out of 10 of the non-microwaved mice were able to do the same.
12.) Control Group- The mice not exposed to microwaves
13.) Independent Variable- microwaves (radiation)
14.) Dependent Variable- the strength of the mice
15.) Constants- 10 mice in each group, same wooden block, same food
16.) What should Bart’s conclusion be? Even though one more mouse exposed to the microwave was able to move the block it is not convincing enough to support the hypothesis
Krusty was told that a new prank itching powder was the newest and best thing on the market; it even claims to cause 50% longer lasting itches. Interested in this product, he buys the prank itching powder and compares it to his original product. One test subject (A) is sprinkled with 2 ounces the original itching powder, and another test subject (B) was sprinkled with 2 ounces of the prank itching powder. Subject A reported having itches for 30 minutes. Subject B reported to have itches for 45 minutes.
17.) Control Group- Group A
18.) Independent Variable- new prank itching powder
19.) Dependent Variable- how long the itching lasts
20.) Explain whether the data supports the advertisements claims about its product. Yes it does, because the new itching powder makes itches last 50% longer than the original itching powder.
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?”
21.) Describe how Lisa would perform this experiment.
Use one test subject. Measure the initial length of the hair, wash the hair with regular shampoo for 1 month and record the growth. Repeat the procedure the next month with Rogooti.
22.) Control Group- Shampooing hair with regular shampoo
23.) Dependent Variable- hair growth
24.) Independent Variable- Rogooti
25.) Constants- same person, same amount of time, and same number of washes.
