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Waves and Oil Cleanup
Materials
Glass
jar with a lid, vegetable oil and water.Instructions
Have students fill a jar about half full of water. Add a cup
of vegetable oil. Close the lid tightly and turn the jar in every direction. The oil
always floats to the top. On the ocean, however, conditions aren’t always so calm. To
simulate the effect of strong ocean waves or storms, shake the jar. The oil and water
appear to mix. The oil blobs become smaller and smaller, creating what is called
emulsified oil, or mousse. As soon as the shaking stops, the oil begins to separate from
the water again.
Discussion Questions...
| 1. |
What
effect would ocean waves have on an oil-spill cleanup operation? |
| 2. |
What
causes oil to float on water? |
| 3. |
Why
do the oil blobs become smaller as the shaking increases? |
Black
Gold | Recipe for Oil | Finding
Oil
Technology Advances | Oil
& Environment | Hybrid Vehicles
Last Updated: 02/16/03
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