Size of an Oil Molecule Lab

[Tessa Leali]

 

Question: What is the estimated size of an oil molecule?

 

Eveidence: The oil drops diameter upon first measurement was 0.05mm which when dropped spread to 15mm. The calcuated volume came to be 31.4mm^3, the calculated area was 176.71mm^2 and the thickness was .2mm^3. Therefore, the size of the oil molecule was 2x10^-1.

 

Explanation:

The drop was considerably sphereical in shape.For  volume of a sphere the equation is 4/3xπr^3. The equation for the area of the spread of the oil drop is 1/4xπd^2. For the thickness of the oil layer we used the equation V= πr^2h, and then solved for h. So, the size of the

oil molecule is 2x10^-1 because the size of the oil molecule is equal to thickness of the oil layer

 

Connection: This unit is specifically focused on meaurements and in the science world we want all measurements and math to be as exact as possible. It is and important part of chemistry to be able to be accurate.

For example, one could acquire a job in the automobile manufacturing industry and if one of the parts measurements is not exactly correct the entire car could be thrown off and would need to be scraped and the restarted. 

 

Communication: The best way to convey my result would be to work out the problems i used to determine the area, thickness, etc. This way the results could be checked for errors and would be easier to explain my results.

 

Reflection: I believe every group got different measurements when it came to how far their oil drop spread.Therefore, the results of the groups were all different but they could all be proven correct using the same mathmatical equations. For our group, the baby powder was a little too thick so the oil couldn't spread as far as maybe if could have otherwise. Our results may be just a little more off than other groups in that respect. This lab has helped me think more critcally on the subject of accurate measurements and how they are important to justify your results in an experiment.