These clips from The Simpsons cartoons are intended for use by science teachers. They should be previewed before showing to ensure they are appropriate for the intended student audience. It is recommended that you download and archive each clip that you would like to use. To do this, right click on the clip and select “Save Video As…”. On a Mac, try control-click. They are a great way to liven up a slide presentation and should import into PowerPoint etc.. The posting and use of theses clips for educational purposes conforms with the fair use provisions of the copyright act.
Smilin’ Joe Fission (1:39) – The students are treated to a film about nuclear power featuring Smilin’ Joe Fission during their field trip to the nuclear plant. This may be the most accurate depiction of nuclear power ever.
Subatomic Particle (1:49) – Moe has to resort to his lifeline to answer the question “Which of the following is not a subatomic particle?” Unfortunately his lifeline is Homer.
Time Traveling Newton (0:15) – Professor Fink brings Sir Isaac into the present. Unfortunately the power goes out half way. I like to speculate in class on what Newton would have been like if he were alive today. Professor Fink finds out first hand.
Einstein’s Brain (1:17) – Itchy replaces Scratchy’s brain with Einstein’s. Scratchy then invents the atomic bomb and time travel. The writing on the board is from a lecture by Einstein at Oxford in 1931 about the expansion of the universe
Black Hole Part 1 (3:10) – The new Springfield super-collider has an unintended result. Lisa has trouble convincing everyone that the black hole is dangerous.
Black Hole Part 2 (3:08) – Lisa places the black hole in the basement but can’t keep the black hole from growing and engulfing Springfield. This clip solves the riddle of what is inside a black hole.
Homer in 3D (3:47) – Homer enters a strange world with an extra, third, dimension. When he throws a cone into the floor, he ruptures space-time and creates a black hole. Look for several mathematical in-jokes.
Stephen Hawking (2:41) – Stephen Hawking saves Lisa with his rocket-powered wheel chair. The credit show that it really was the professor.
Omega < 1 (1:14) – Homer soon regrets setting the density of the universe to less than 1 as he tries to become an inventor.