Modeling Oil on the Ocean: Testing & Improving Oil Booms
Students learn about oil spills and their environmental and economic effects. They experience the steps of the engineering design process, starting by brainstorming potential methods for oil spill cleanup. They model small-size oil spills in plastic bins, and then design, build and re-design oil booms to prevent the spread of oil spills. Oil booms are like floating fences on the water surface to help contain and collect spilled oil. During a reflective session after cleaning up their oil booms, students come up with ideas on how to reduce oil consumption to prevent future oil spills. A PowerPoint presentation is provided.
What can engineers design to prevent oil spills from polluting beaches and harming wildlife?Copyright 2010 Patrick Kelley, Wikimedia Commons http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Contractors_Assist_in_Deepwater_Horizon_Spill.jpg
Environmental engineers assist with the cleanup of oil spills. They must be familiar with the different methods of chemical and physical material cleanup. Engineers follow the universal steps of the engineering design process to imagine, design and test possible cleanup and containment strategies. Petroleum engineers weigh the risks and benefits of a well before they decide to drill.
After this activity, students should be able to:
- Identify the effects of oil spills on water sources and the organisms that depend on the water sources.
- Describe methods that environmental engineers use to clean up water pollution.
- Explain the importance of the redesign step of the engineering design process.