Oil and Water Science Fair Projects Cut to the Chase

Super Science Fair Projects :: Microbiology :: Water / Soil Microbes ::

Explore the properties of oil and water...

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Oil and Water

You have probably heard the saying that oil and water don't mix. This is so true. When developing a science fair project you will want to focus on specific characteristics of oil and water to determine why they oppose one another.

PURPOSE

The first purpose of this experiment was to determine the rate at which oil spread across the surface of water.

The second purpose of this experiment was to determine the effect of temperature of the water on the rate at which oil spread across the surface of water.

The third purpose of this experiment was to determine the effect of salinity level of the water on the rate at which oil spread across the surface of water.

I became interested in this idea because I had heard news reports about oil spills and saw images of volunteers who had cleaned birds covered in a tar-like substance. I was instantly concerned and decided I would take this opportunity to see how quickly responders must be at the spill site to effectively contain the oil and prevent such incidents.

The information gained from this experiment could help those responders, whether local volunteers or government agencies, to contain oil and recover it. Also citizens who live near bodies of water may be able to use this information to contain local spills on their own property or nearby bodies of water.

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HYPOTHESIS

My first hypothesis was that the oil would spread at least 0.05 centimeters in radius per second.

I based my first hypothesis on an article found at gpa.unep.org/facts/fate.htm. The Global Marine Oil pollution Information Gataway states, “Only ten minutes after a spill of 1 ton of oil, the oil can disperse over a radius of 50 meters, forming a slick 10 millimeters thick.” That is approximately a 0.42 cm radius increase per 16 ounces of oil spilled per second. When 50ml is used that would be about a 0.05 cm radius increase per second.

My second hypothesis was that the colder the temperature the slower the oil would spread across water.

I based my second hypothesis on an email from Stephanie Grenon, a member of ITOPF; a company that plays a great part in the cleaning and preventing of oil spills. She stated, “Generally, the viscosity of oil will be influenced by the ambient temperature (if it is warm, it will be less viscous so it will spread more rapidly).”

My third hypothesis was that salinity would not affect the rate at which oil spreads across water.

I based my third hypothesis on another email from Stephanie Grenon. She stated, “Salinity of the water will not have any influence on the spreading of oil.”

EXPERIMENT DESIGN

The constants in this study were:
• Amount of oil used (50ml per trial)
• Size of container (56cm x 41cm x 13 cm)
• Shape of Container (rectangular)
• Amount of water used (14 liters when indicated)
• Number of repeated trials (3)
• Type of water (well water)
• Type of salt used
• Temperature of standard (21° Celsius)
• Type of Oil (Heavy Duty Straight 30 weight Pennzoil Motor Oil)
• Size of plexiglass ( at least 50cm x 80cm)
• Rate at which the oil is spilled into water
• Plexiglass height above water (7 cm)
• Syringe height above water (1 cm)
• Height of camera (90cm from ground)

The manipulated variables were the temperature of water and salinity level in water.

The responding variable was the oil-spreading rate.

To measure the responding variable, I took a plexiglass grid and put it across the top of my container. I began a video camera and “spilled” the oil by using a syringe placed through a hole in the center of the plexiglass. I did this for all the experimental trials of each experimental group. After reviewing the video in slow motion I would record the elapsed time and the two “diameters”; north to south and east to west. Using this I found the rate by taking the average “diameter” of slick divided by the seconds elapsed.

MATERIALS

Quantity	Item Description
1	Container (56cm x 41cm x 13cm)
84 liters total	Water (14 liters when indicated)
1	syringe
1	video camera with timer
1	tripod
1	thermometer
1 50cm x 80cm	Plexiglass sheet
1	Ruler
1	Meter stick
6 sheets	Polypropylene Pads (Cut into fourths)
1	Triple Beam Balance
490 grams	Sodium Chloride (table salt)

Oil water science fair projects continues at slick oil ideas for scifair projects.