Discussion
In my hypothesis I stated that if the amount of oil absorbed and contained is dependent on the materials, then 10 cotton balls, 1 sponge, 25ml of dish soap, and 1 spoon will absorb and contain the most oil. The hypothesis was incorrect as 10 cotton balls, 1 sponge, 25ml of dish soap, and 1 spoon didn’t clean up all
of the oil. For background research we found what governments actually use for oil spill cleanup. We found that they use absorbent booms for containment and skimmers for the absorbing of the oil.
To start we poured the water into the washbasin because we needed something to simulate an ocean. Next, we poured the crude oil into the washbasin to simulate an oil spill. After that, we poured 25ml of dish soap evenly around the perimeter of the water, to contain the oil. Next we used the spoon to scoop up as much oil as possible; we did this to clean up the majority of the oil spill. To continue we dropped a cotton ball into a pocket of oil, and then we disposed of the cotton ball in the extra beaker, we did these 10 times to clean up the remaining pockets of oil. Finally we used the sponge to soak up the remaining oil; we did this to guaranty that all the oil was gone. We also made sure to control the variables. The variables were temperature of classroom, which was the same, the type of oil, which was the same, the amount of water, which was the same and the amount of oil which was the same. The last three variables were also the control variables.
The results of the experiment were that almost all of the oil was absorbed. The dish soap contained 80% of the oil and absorbed 0% of the oil. The spoon contained 5% of the oil and absorbed 70% of the oil. The cotton balls contained 10% of the oil and absorbed 5% of the oil. Finally, the sponge contained 5% of the oil and absorbed 25% of the oil. All of which are shown in the graph and table. These were not the expected results as we thought that 10 cotton balls would absorb the most oil, 1 sponge would absorb the second most oil, 25ml of dish soap would contain the most oil, and 1 spoon would absorb and contain the least oil.
All in all, the experiment was a success. If anything should be changed it should be the materials used and the type of oil. No problems were identified in the experiment and no sources of error were found. If this project was repeated you could test what type of dish soap contains oil the best, what oil spread the fastest and etc..
of the oil. For background research we found what governments actually use for oil spill cleanup. We found that they use absorbent booms for containment and skimmers for the absorbing of the oil.
To start we poured the water into the washbasin because we needed something to simulate an ocean. Next, we poured the crude oil into the washbasin to simulate an oil spill. After that, we poured 25ml of dish soap evenly around the perimeter of the water, to contain the oil. Next we used the spoon to scoop up as much oil as possible; we did this to clean up the majority of the oil spill. To continue we dropped a cotton ball into a pocket of oil, and then we disposed of the cotton ball in the extra beaker, we did these 10 times to clean up the remaining pockets of oil. Finally we used the sponge to soak up the remaining oil; we did this to guaranty that all the oil was gone. We also made sure to control the variables. The variables were temperature of classroom, which was the same, the type of oil, which was the same, the amount of water, which was the same and the amount of oil which was the same. The last three variables were also the control variables.
The results of the experiment were that almost all of the oil was absorbed. The dish soap contained 80% of the oil and absorbed 0% of the oil. The spoon contained 5% of the oil and absorbed 70% of the oil. The cotton balls contained 10% of the oil and absorbed 5% of the oil. Finally, the sponge contained 5% of the oil and absorbed 25% of the oil. All of which are shown in the graph and table. These were not the expected results as we thought that 10 cotton balls would absorb the most oil, 1 sponge would absorb the second most oil, 25ml of dish soap would contain the most oil, and 1 spoon would absorb and contain the least oil.
All in all, the experiment was a success. If anything should be changed it should be the materials used and the type of oil. No problems were identified in the experiment and no sources of error were found. If this project was repeated you could test what type of dish soap contains oil the best, what oil spread the fastest and etc..