Cool thing that I do - Oil Spill Simulation Clean up: Grade 8 Fluids

Hand-out

Name of Group Members and their respective roles:

1) Experiment performer’s Name: ______( will perform the experiment)

1)  Secretary’s Name: ______( will record all data)

2)  Time keeper or material keeper’s Name: ______( ensure time limit is kept)

·  All members will help in cleaning up after the experiment.

Science Experts

Materials:

1.  one clear plastic container (recycled)

2.  water (with blue food colouring)

3.  cooking oil

4.  syringe, dropper or graduated cylinder

5.  cotton balls or cotton pads

6.  paper towels

7.  dishwashing liquid

8.  feather

/ Steps for procedure / Questions and/or Observations /
Demonstration
1. / Fill a plastic container halfway with water. Add some drops of blue food colouring. / What happens?
Why does the food colouring mix with the water?
2. / Create an “oil spill” in the water by putting in five to ten drops (approximately) of oil. / Does the oil mix with the water?
Yes No
Why?
3. / Create gentle waves simulating the “ocean” in the plastic container / What happens to the oil?
Why would it be important to clean up an oil spill quickly?
All groups are now given their own simulated oil spill at this point.
4. / Dip a feather into the “oil spill”. / What happens?
How would oily feathers affect a bird?
5. / Test the following material to see which one cleans up the “spill” best.
-  cotton ball or cotton pad
-  paper towel
-  detergent / Approximately how much oil does each material clean up? (Please circle the best answer). Note: If one of the materials cleans up all of the oil, please request, more oil in order to test the next material.
cotton ball or cotton pad: all ¾ ½ ¼ none
Request more oil
paper towel: all ¾ ½ ¼ none
Request more oil
detergent: all ¾ ½ ¼ none
What problems do you have with each?
cotton ball:
paper towel:
detergent:
How difficult would it be to clean up the spill if there was a terrible storm?
6. / How “clean” is the water now that it has dishwashing liquid in it?
What is worse, oil or the cleaner?

APPENDIX H – Exit Tickets for activities

EXIT Ticket Name: ______

1. Describe one new concept you learned today about the Fluid Topic.

2. How can the new concept you learned today be applied in your life?