How Does Water Effect
Oil Spills?
6-5920
6th Grade
Nativity Catholic School
2024 San Mateo County Office of Education STEM Fair
Abstract
I wanted to learn how water temperature effects oil spills. I conducted some experiments to see how fast the oil will spread in certain temperatures. I tested room temperature water and cold water. I learned that the oil spreads faster in cold water. It spreads faster in cold water because it starts to spread immediately. In warm water, bubbles form and then the oil starts to spread. This answers the question “Does water affect oil spills?” because the water affects how much oil spreads by its temperature.
Purpose Statement
Question: How Does Water Affect Oil Spills?
I want to do this experiment because I like the ocean.
This experiment will help others by putting out information about oil spills. I am trying to solve how water temperature effects oil spills. I will discover how water temperature affects oil spills. The information gained from this experiment will help people understand how they can help nature in this situation.
Hypothesis
My hypothesis is that the temperature of the water will affect how much the oil spreads, just like how it would spread in a hot or a cold pan.
Experimental Procedures and
Materials
Materials:
Procedures:
Experimental Results
My results were that the oil spreads faster in one temperature than the other. If oil spills in a body of water this temperature, it will spread faster.
Round 1 -
Room Temperature Water
During round 1 room temperature, I saw some oil bubbles floating while were flat. I also noticed that the oil spreads and moves down. The oil was moving slow while spreading, and there were tiny bubbles inside the flat bubble.
Round 1 -
Ice Water
During round 1 ice water, I noticed that the ice blocks the oil from forming flat bubbles. This means that the oil is spreading faster. The oil is in one place because of the ice. The oil spreads faster in cold water.
Round 2 -
Room Temperature Water
During round 2 room temperature, I noticed that the bigger bubbles will pop the smaller bubbles. The bubbles clump and then spread. Once they reach the bottom, the oil becomes flat on the bottom. The color is darker in warm water.
Round 2 -
Ice Water
During round 2 ice water, I noticed that the oil tries to find its way around the ice.
Round 3 -
Room Temperature
Water
During round 3 room temperature, I noticed that the oil uses water to get bigger. The bubbles stay together. Once the bubbles have nowhere to go, they spread. The water gets darker the more the more they spread. They become flat at the bottom. The tiny bubbles inside get smaller the more they spread.
Round 3 -
Ice Water Temperature
During round 3 ice water, I noticed that the oil spreads off of the ice. The water is less dark with ice. In some areas the ice is darker. The food coloring in the middle is darker because it has not diluted.
Analysis of Experimental
Results
Here is what I found out. Oil spreads faster in cold water because the temperature is too cold for it to bubble then spread. In warm water, it bubbles then spreads. In conclusion, oil spreads faster in cold water and the water effects oil spills.
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Conclusions
From the experiment, I have found that the temperature of the water does affect how much and how fast the oil spreads. In cold water, it starts to spread. The oil spreads faster in cold water. In warm water, bubbles form at the top and it starts to spread. In warm water, the oil would spread slower. This proves that the temperature of the water does affect how much the oil spreads. In conclusion, water can affect oil spills by the temperature of it. If it were fall or winter, the oil would spread faster because it is cold. If it were spring or summer, the oil would spread slower because it is warm. There would be more damage during fall or winter.
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank my science teacher for giving me ideas. I would also like to thank my Dad for supplying us with paper and food coloring. Next, I would like to thank the substitute for helping me catch up. Lastly, I would like to thank my Mom for helping me do the experiment. Thank you.
Bibliography and
Sources
Reference 1: Webpage Title: Humans Impact On The Environment
Website Title: National Geographic Education
URL: education.nationalgeographic.com
Reference 2: Date Published Or Copyright Date: April,6,2018
Webpage Title: How Do Humans Affect The Environment?
Website Title: Kent State Online
URL: onlinedegrees.kent.edu
Reference 3: Webpage Title: 9 Ways We Know Humans Caused Climate Change
Website Title: Environmental Defense Fund/ EDF
URL: edf.org
Bibliography and Sources
Reference 4: Date Published Or Copyright Date: July,14,2009 Webpage Title How Do We Know Humans Are The Cause Of Global Warming?
Website Title: Union Of Concerned Scientists
URL: ucusa.org