Discussion
In my hypothesis I stated that if a spoon, a sponge, paper towels, and cotton balls are able to contain and absorb the oil spill then we will contain 75% and absorb 80% of the oil. I proved my hypothesis incorrect. I managed to contain and absorb more oil than I predicted. I contained around 85% and absorbed around 90% of the oil. Containing the oil was much easier than I had thought. Using the spoon, which had the concave shape, made it easier to scoop all the oil into one spot. The cotton balls were also very useful for absorbing a lot of the oil.
During my experiment I tested four materials to see how much of an “oil spill” they would be able to contain and absorb. I tested a spoon, a sponge, cotton balls, and paper towels. My independent variables were the spoon, sponge, cotton balls, and paper towels. My independent variable was the amount of oil cleaned up. My controlled variables were the temperature of the water, and the density of the oil. We made sure that the temperature of the water stayed around the same temperature during the experiment, incase it would effect the oil in any way. We also made sure that the oil had a lighter density than the water so that we would be able to clean it up.
As a result, I was able to contain 85% and absorb 90% of the oil. As seen in the graph, the spoon was the best at being able to contain the oil. Scooping the oil into place really helped contain it. However, the sponge, cotton balls, and the paper towels were not very useful at all to contain the oil. The two best materials for absorbing the oil were the cotton balls, and the spoon. The spoon was again very useful at scooping the top layer of the oil and the cotton balls just sucked up all the oil it touched. By far the worst material for absorbing were the paper towels when they attempted to absorb the oil they ended up absorbing more water than oil. The sponge was in the middle. It absorbed the oil, but considering it’s large size, it wasn’t very useful because it didn’t absorb that much. The overall best material for containing and absorbing the oil was the spoon.
I think my experiment was very successful. I managed to clean up more of the oil than I predicted. If I had to change something, I would probably not you the paper towels and maybe use soap instead, as it was not useful at all for containing and absorbing. I didn’t find any problems during my experiment. If I were to repeat the experiment I would also test different oils. The materials might absorb some oils differently. I would also test different materials. I would also test a cloth. My experiment ran very smoothly.
During my experiment I tested four materials to see how much of an “oil spill” they would be able to contain and absorb. I tested a spoon, a sponge, cotton balls, and paper towels. My independent variables were the spoon, sponge, cotton balls, and paper towels. My independent variable was the amount of oil cleaned up. My controlled variables were the temperature of the water, and the density of the oil. We made sure that the temperature of the water stayed around the same temperature during the experiment, incase it would effect the oil in any way. We also made sure that the oil had a lighter density than the water so that we would be able to clean it up.
As a result, I was able to contain 85% and absorb 90% of the oil. As seen in the graph, the spoon was the best at being able to contain the oil. Scooping the oil into place really helped contain it. However, the sponge, cotton balls, and the paper towels were not very useful at all to contain the oil. The two best materials for absorbing the oil were the cotton balls, and the spoon. The spoon was again very useful at scooping the top layer of the oil and the cotton balls just sucked up all the oil it touched. By far the worst material for absorbing were the paper towels when they attempted to absorb the oil they ended up absorbing more water than oil. The sponge was in the middle. It absorbed the oil, but considering it’s large size, it wasn’t very useful because it didn’t absorb that much. The overall best material for containing and absorbing the oil was the spoon.
I think my experiment was very successful. I managed to clean up more of the oil than I predicted. If I had to change something, I would probably not you the paper towels and maybe use soap instead, as it was not useful at all for containing and absorbing. I didn’t find any problems during my experiment. If I were to repeat the experiment I would also test different oils. The materials might absorb some oils differently. I would also test different materials. I would also test a cloth. My experiment ran very smoothly.