Identify the Controls and Variables Worksheet

Name:________________________ Date:___________ Class:________

Scenario 1:
Mr. Krabs believes that a secret formula will increase the productivity of his
employees. He creates two groups of 25 workers each and assigns each group
the same task (in this case, they're supposed to cook krabby patties). Group A is
given the secret formula to eat while they work. Group B is not given the secret
formula. After an hour, Mr. Krabs counts how many krabby patties that each
group has made. Group A made 387 patties, Group B made 511 patties.

Identify the following from scenario 1: Answer questions 4 and 5 from scenario 1:
4. What Should Mr. Krabs’ conclusion be?
1. Control Group:

2. Independent Variable
5. How could this experiment be improved?

3. Dependent Variable

Scenario 2:
SpongeBob noticed that his shower is covered with some strange barnacles. His
friend Patrick tells him that kelp juice will get rid of the barnacles. SpongeBob
decides to check this out by spraying half of the shower with kelp 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 barnacles on either side of the shower.

Identify the following from scenario 2: Answer questions 4 and 5 from scenario 2:
4. What was the initial observation?
1. Control Group:

2. Independent Variable
5. What should SpongeBob’s conclusion be?

3. Dependent Variable
Scenario 3:

Sandy believes that mice exposed to microwaves will become extra strong (she might
be a little nutty). She decides to perform this experiment by placing 10 mice in a
microwave for 10 seconds. She compared the 10 mice to another 10 mice that
had not been put into the microwave. Her test consisted of a heavy block of
wood that blocked the mouse from food. She found that 8 of the 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.

Identify the following from scenario 3: Answer questions 4 and 5 from scenario 3:
4. What should Sandy’s conclusion be?
1. Control Group:

2. Independent Variable
5. How could Sandy’s experiment be improved?

3. Dependent Variable

Scenario 4:
Patrick was told that a certain hair removal cream was the newest best thing on the
market. It even claims to cause 50% longer lasting baldness. Interested in this product,
he buys the hair removal cream and compares it to his usual product. One test
subject (A) is lathered with the original hair removal, and another test subject (B)
was sprinkled with the new and Experimental hair removal cream. Subject A
reported having baldness for 30 days. Subject B reported to have baldness for 45
days.

Identify the following from scenario 4: Answer question 4 from scenario 4:

4. Explain whether the data supports the
1. Control Group:
advertisement claims about its product.

2. Independent Variable

3. Dependent Variable
Scenario 5:

Squidward is working on a science project. His task is to answer the question:

"Does Miraculous Locks (which is a commercial hair product) affect the speed
of hair growth". Her family is willing to volunteer for the experiment.

Answer question 1 from scenario 5:

1. Describe how Squidward would perform this experiment. Identify the control group, and the
independent and dependent variables in your description.