Oil Spills Science Fair Projects-for-Kids

Oil spills science fair projects for kids can examine how oil spills occur or how they impact the environment. These environmental science experiments can also look at how you can respond to an oil spill. In the following east fast science fair projects you will be examining how oil spills affect the environments the occur in. You can use the data you collect from these projects to spawn your own unique science fair project ideas.

Oil and water do not mix. This is a common fact that you will want to explore with oil spills science fair projects for kids. To start with use vegetable oil and try to mix it with water. What happens? What does this reaction tell you about what happens when oil products are spilled in waterways? Why is this both good and bad news?

Dishsoap can be used to clean oil from both organic and inorganic items. This is an interesting hypothesis that you can test with your oil spills science fair projects for kids. Background information on the use of dishsoap to clean oil from animals and rocks can be retrieved from archives about the Exxon Valdez oil spill. Dawn dishsoap, which is known for its abilty to "take grease out of your way" was used to clean oil from wildlife. Examine why this mild detergent is a good tool to use during an oil spill cleanup.

Oxygenation levels in water goes down when oil spills cover the surface of the water. To test this hypothesis you will need to set up your environmental pollution science fair projects so that they utilize a closed testing tank. A fish tank works well. Fill the fish tank with a sediment layer and water. Let it set for about a week and then test its oxygen levels. Next create a mock oil slick on the surface. Test the oxygenation level after one hour, one day and one week. Was the oxygenation level affected by the oil slick? Use your answer to explain why oil slicks are harmful to fish and other marine life that live under the water.

Animals can die simply from having oil on their skin, fur and feathers. When you work with this hypothesis you will not only need to show that this is true, using existing data, but then go on to explain why it happens. You will need to design your project around explaining why oil on skin, fur and feathers can lead to death. Think about oxygen absorption and the functions of skin, fur and feathers. Then think about how having oil or tar on these items will impair their intended functions.

Ingesting oil from an oil spill will lead to death. To test this hypothesis without injuring animals you will need to look at the chemical makeup of oil. You will then need to determine the toxicity level of each of the components. When you add everything together is oil a toxic substance to swallow? Advance your project by explaining how oil is ingested by animals after an oil spill. Go on to explain how animal deaths can be minimized after an oil spill.