490 Unit 4: Ecology Cleaning Oil Spills OVERVIEW AND PURPOSE One example of a harmful effect of human activity is an oil spill. You’ve probably heard about oil spills in the news. Damage to an oil-carrying ship or barge can cause thick black oil to spill into the water. The oil floats on the water, and waves can carry the oil to shore. Oil gets caught on sand and living things that are part of a coastal ecosystem. These spills are especially difficult to clean up. In this investigation you will • simulate an oil spill and test the effectiveness of various materials used to remove oil • evaluate materials and processes used to clean up oil spills What materials are effective at removing oil spilled near a coastal ecosystem? Write a hypothesis to propose a material or materials that might best remove oil from a coastal area. Your hypothesis should take the form of an “If . . . , then . . . , because . . .” statement. Measure out 40 mL of vegetable oil in a small beaker. Stir in turmeric to make the oil yellow. Pour sand into one end of the pan as shown to model a beach. Procedure Hypothesize Write It Up Problem Write It Up MATERIALS • small beaker • 40 mL vegetable oil • turmeric • spoon • aluminum baking pan • sand • large beaker • water • sponge • dish soap • rubbing alcohol • paper towels • cotton balls • cotton rag • cornstarch • yarn • feather • seaweed Carefully pour enough water into the pan so that it forms a model ocean at least 2 cm deep. Try not to disturb the sand pile. Use the yellow-colored oil to model an oil spill. Pour the oil onto the slope of the sand so that it runs off into the water. step 4