Slimotosis

Sponge Bob notices that his pal Gary is suffering from slimotosis, which occurs when the shell

develops a nasty slime and gives off a horrible odor. His friend Patrick tells him that rubbing seaweed

on the shell is the perfect cure, while Sandy says that drinking Dr. Kelp will be a better cure. Sponge

Bob decides to test this cure by rubbing Gary with seaweed for 1 week and having him drink Dr. Kelp.

After a week of treatment, the slime is gone and Gary's shell smells better.

What was the initial observation?

What is the independent variable?

What is the dependent variable?

What should Sponge Bob's conclusion be?

Here's what I get

Explanation:

A. Initial observation

Gary's shell had slime and an odour.

B. Independent variable

The independent variable is the one that the experimenter changes.

There are two independent variables: the rubbing with seaweed and the drinking of Dr. Kelp.

C. The dependent variable

The dependent variable is the amount of slime and odour.

D. The conclusion

Sponge Bob can conclude that rubbing the shell with seaweed and drinking Dr. Kelp removes the slime and odour.

However, this was a poorly designed experiment. He doesn't know if it is the seaweed or the Dr. Kelp that gives the result or if he must use both together. He should change only one independent variable at a time.