Janice VanCleave’s Crazy, Kooky, and Quirky Biology Experiments

Janice VanCleave’s Crazy, Kooky, and Quirky Biology Experiments — page 5
Coated Purpose To demonstrate the effect that oil spills can have on birds Materials 2 small bowls tap water 3 tablespoons 45 ml oil two 2 to 3-inch 5 to 7 5 cm long feathers can be purchased at a crafts store NOTE Do not pick up bird feathers from the ground outdoors They can carry diseases Procedure 1 Fill the bowls three-fourths full with water 2 Pour the oil into one of the bowls 3 Gently lay one of the feathers on the surface of the water in the bowl without the oil 4 Lift the feather from the bowl and blow on it 5 Gently lay the second feather on the surface of the oil in the second bowl 6 Lift the feather from the bowl and blow on it Results The feather taken from the water appears dry and is light enough to be moved by your breath The feather taken from the oil appears wet and heavy It moves little or not at all when you blow on it Why Water does not stick to the feathers of birds very easily but oil does The oil-coated feather is very heavy and the fibers of the feather 8 Janice VanCleave’s Crazy Kooky and Quirky Biology Experiments