Oil Spills
Why does oil float on the surface of water?
Oil has a lower density than water
What is a boom?
A boom is a floating barrier that keeps oil from spreading.
Why do we test for water quality
To make sure that our water is clean and safe to use.
What is an aquifer?
A large underground water deposit.
What's porosity?
The size the holes in the soil/rock?
What does a dispersant do to oil spills?
Breaks down the oil molecules, makes it easier to clean up
oil damages their feathers, makes it hard for them to fly and float.
Where does our water come from in D.C.
Potomac or Anacostia
Where do aquifers get their water from?
What's permeability?
The speed at which water flows through soil/rock.
How do Environmental Engineers clean up oil spills, name 2 ways?
skimmers, absorbants, dispersants
How do absorbents work in oil spills?
Absorbents work by absorbing the oil into specific oil absorbing pads.
What can cause bad water quality?
What's the name of the aquifer in the Sahara Desert
Nubian Aquifer
As porosity increases, what happens to permeability?
it increases at a similar rate.
What is the effect of oil spills on the animals in the environment that it's effecting?
Population declines (negative effect on reproductive system), eliminates food sources, contaminates habitats.
How do skimmers work when cleaning up oil spills?
like a pool skimmer, picks up oil off the surface of the water
Name 3 common chemicals that we test for in water quality
How much of the earth's water is freshwater?
2-3%
What's the difference between permeability and porosity
Permeability is the speed of water's passage through the material, porosity is the size of holes within the material.
What is an oil slick?
A layer of oil floating on top of the ocean/sea
what is density?
density is how close together the molecules of a substance are/
How do scientists/engineers test for unclean water
Using water quality tests
How do rocks help to clean water?
They filter out the big particles and big pieces of dirt but don't catch the small chemical particles and bacteria.
What is groundwater?