Hooked on Science: Make an oil sock

The massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico continues to release thousands of barrels of oil each day. Environmental scientists are using oil socks to help clean up the spill. Using a few ingredients from around the house you can create your own oil sock.

Materials

* Hair

* Nylon stockings

* Motor oil

* Large container

* Scissors

Instructions

STEP 1: Using the scissors, remove both of the legs from the nylon stockings.

STEP 2: Stuff each nylon leg with hair and tie a knot in the end of each nylon leg, creating two oil socks.

STEP 3: Fill the large container with water and pour a cup of motor oil into the water.

STEP 4: Place each oil sock into the large container. Move the oil socks around in the mixture.

STEP 5: Remove one of the oil socks from the mixture and observe.

Explanation

The oil in the large container clings to the thousands of tiny scales on each hair shaft.

Jason Lindsey is a Science Outreach Educator with Hooked on Science. Check out his website "Hooked On Science" at hookedonscience.org for webcasts and experiments that might get you hooked on science. Send him your science questions at jlindsey@hookedonscience.org. More science experiments can be found at www.semissourian.com.